UC-NRLF 


N,  W.  War. 


I     ! 


GIFT  OF 


/  . 


x> 


"The  Master  Key" 


...  to  the  .  .  . 


Problems  of  Passion  Week 


.  .  and  .  . 


The  Resurrection 

According  to  the  Scriptures 


By  NELSON  W.  WARD 

•1915 


Published  by  the  Author 
Long  Beach,  Cal. 


• 

Copyright  1915 
By  NELSON  W.  WARD 


INTRODUCTION 

In  the  investigation  of  the  events,  of  the  last  days  of 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  it  will  be  found  that  the  scriptures  do 
not  agree  with  the  assumed  popular  theories,  that  are 
usually  taught  and  published  to  the  world.  And  it  is  a 
difficult  task  to  remove  a  long  established  theory,  how- 
ever false,  and  substitute  the  truth,  especially  in  religious 
matters. 

If  the  writer  followed  the  usual  line  of  interpretation, 
his  conclusions  would  reach  no  farther  than  the  flagrant 
errors,  which  have  long  perplexed  the  mind  of  the  student. 
Therefore,  it  has  been  his  endeavor  to  closely  follow  the 
scriptures  in  the  investigation  of  subjects  under  consider- 
ation. For  the  scriptures  alone  can  remove  difficulties, 
and  bring  to  the  mind  the  true  light  leading  to  a  correct 
interpretation. 

There  is  much  so-called  scientific  discussion,  concern- 
ng  the  events  of  Passion  week;  and  in  the  various  con- 
clusions, there  is  shown  a  dearth  and  confusion  of  scrip- 
tural evidence.  However,  theologians  have  made  earnest 
effort  to  explain  their  theories,  and  persuade  themselves 
of  the  correctness  of  their  conclusions.  If  we  would  seek 
knowledge  beyond  the  sacred  truths  revealed  to  us,  we 
grope  in  the  dark,  and  both  language  and  thought  fail  us. 
We  have  reached  the  limit  of  finite  knowledge: 
Therefore,  let  us  earnestly  contend  for  the  faith  which 
was  once  for  all  delivered  unto  the  saints.  As  JMble 
students  we  should  allow  the  word  of  God  to  interpret  it- 
self and  to  reach  correct  conclusions  must  have  a  clear 
conception  of  all  the  facts,  connected  with  the  events 
under  discussion.  Therefore  facts  which  have  been  neg- 
lected by  the  teacher,  and  distorted  by  the  critic,  are 


313984 


emphasized  by  frequent  repetition,  that  the  reader  may 
be  awakened  to  the  truth.  It  has  been  said:  "You  must 
insist  on  an  idea  o~  fact,  if  you  want  to  get  anywhere  with 
it."  The  purpose  of  the  writer  has  been  to  present  a  les- 
son that  would  remove  accepted  false  teachings  of  past 
ages,  and  establish  truth  instead. 

The  scriptures  pertaining  to  the  last  days  of  Jesus  are 
fundamental,  and  should  be  well  understood  by  all.  His 
coming  into  the  world,  and  His  going  out,  are  important 
questions,  but  many  teachers  show  a  careless  indifference 
to  the  scriptures  concerning  these  events,  and  frequently 
declare  that  a  knowledge  of  this  Divine  testimony  is  non- 
essential  to  the  plan  of  salvation. 

"I  will  never  forget  thy  precepts;  through  thy  precepts 
I  get  understanding;  therefore  I  hate  every  false  way" 
(Psalm  119). 


THE  DIVINE  KEY 

"For  as  Jonah  was  three  days  and  three  nights  in 
the  belly  of  the  whale,  so  shall  the  Son  of  man  be 
three  days  and  three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the 
earth"  (Matthew  12:40). 

"In  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath,  as  the  first  of  the 
week  was  beginning,  came  Mary  Magdalene  and  the 
other  Mary  to  see  the  sepulchre"  (Matt.  28:1). 

The  Divine  Key  is  the  word  of  God.  It  is  the  key 
to  knowledge,  and  reveals  the  truth;  which  in  ful- 
filment demonstrated  its  power  to  be  infinite  and  un- 
limited. It  is  the  only  key  to  the  time-lock  of  three 
days  and  three  nights  which  Jesus  placed  on  the 
tomb  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea. 

Receive  this  key,  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but  as 
it  is  in  truth,  the  word  of  God.  It  will  dispel  the 
dark  clouds  of  error,  and  open  the  blind  eyes;  and 
when  the  mists  of  perplexity  and  doubt  have  vanish- 
ed, we  shall  behold  no  man  save  Jesus  only — and 
His  word. 


CONTENTS 

Page 

Introduction 7 

Dedication  9 

Chart    14 

The  Passover  instituted  17 

The  Passover  established  by  an  ordinance — the  Feast 

of  Unleavened  Bread  20 

Jesus  prepares  to  eat  the  Passover 23 

When  did  Jesus  eat  the   Passover? 24 

The  Lord's  Supper  instituted 32 

Where  was  the  Lord's  Supper  instituted? 33 

The  betrayal  and  arrest  of  Jesus 35 

Why  was   Jesus   arrested? 36 

Who  were  the  particular  enemies  of  Jesus? 39 

Jesus  puts  the  Sadducees  to  silence 41 

Was  Jesus  arrested  on  a  feast  day? 44 

When  did  Judas  leave  the  upper  room? 49 

When  was  Jesus  arrested? 53 

What  was  the  cup  our  Lord  Prayed  might  pass? 55 

Jesus  before  Annas 59 

Peter  denies  his  Master 62 

Second  denial  63 

Third  denial  63 

Jesus  before  Caiaphas 68 

Abuse  by  the  mob 74 

Jesus  before  the  Sanhedrim 75 

Judas  repents  and  returns  his  price 77 

Disposition  of  the  blood  money 78 

Jesus  is  taken  from  the  temple  to  Pilate 79 

Jesus  before  Pilate  in  the  Judgment  hall 81 

First  trial  before  Pilate 81 

11 


Page 

Discourse  between  Pilate  and  Jesus 85 

Jesus  acquitted  by  Pilate 90 

Jesus  before  Herod  Antipas 93 

Herod  sends  Jesus  again  to  Pilate 96 

Pilate  seeks  to  release  Jesus 103 

Second  attempt  to  release  Jesus 104 

Third  effort  to  release  Jesus 106 

Why  did  they  reject  Jesus? 109 

Pilate  assents  to  the  death  of  Jesus,  and  Barabbas 

is  released  110 

Jesus  is  scourged,  mocked  and  abused  by  the  Roman 

soldiers  Ill 

The  last  trial  of  Jesus 114 

Jesus  delivered  to  be  crucified 119 

The  crucifixion  121 

When  was  Jesus  buried? 141 

When  was  the  guard  placed  at  the  tomb? 145 

On  what  day  were  the  spices  gathered? 150 

The  resurrection  '  152 

Appearances  of  Jesus  after  the  resurrection 15& 

The  ascension  164 

The  day  of  Pentecost 166 

Questions  and  answers  on  the  scriptures 170- 


12 


CHART 
EVENTS  OF  THE  LAST  PASSOVER  WEEK 


Thursday,  April  7th. 

Nisan  14th 
Preparation  Day 

Jesus  sends  Peter  and  John 
to  prepare  the  Passover. 

"Now,  when  the  even  was 
come,  He  sat  down  with  the 
twelve."— Matthew  26:20. 


Saturday,  April  9th. 

Nisan  16th 
Second  day  of  the  feast: 

also    the    weekly  Sabbath. 
"Let  no  man  go  out  of  his 

place  on  the  seventh  day." 

—Ex.  16:29. 


Friday,  April  8th. 

Nisan  15th 

First  day  of  the  feast  of  un- 
leavened bread.  Jesus  with 
the  twelve  ate  the  paschal 
supper  last  night.  The  night 
precedes  the  day. 


Sunday,  April  10th. 

Nisan  17th 

Third  day  of  the  feast.  • 
Jesus  arrested  last  night,  and 
led  away  to  Annas.     Trials 
before  Annas  and  Caiaphas 
on  Sunday. 


Monday,  April    11 

Nisan  18th 

Fourth  day  of  the 
feast.  "And  as 
soon  as  it  was  day, 
they  led  Him  into 
their  council."  — 
Luke. 

"And  when  they 
had  bound  Him, 
they  led  Him  unto 
Pilate"— Matthew. 


Tuesday,  April   12 

Nisan  19th 

Fifth   day    of    the 
feast. 

Jesus  sent  to  Herod 
by  Pilate.  "Herod 
sent  Him  again  to 
Pilate,  the  same 
day." 


Wed'sday,  Apr.  13 

Nisan  20th 

Sixth  day  of  the 
feast.  Second  prep- 
aration of  the  Pass- 
over. Jesus  deliv- 
ered to  be  crucified. 
"It  was  about  the 
sixth  hour."  "And 
it  was  the  third 
hour,  and  they  cru- 
cified Him." 


CHART 
ACCORDING  TO  THE  SCRIPTURES. 


Thursday, 

April  14th. 

Friday,  April  15th 

Nisan 

21st. 

Nisan 

22nd 

Annual  Sabbath.    Last  day 

of  Passover  week. 

JESUS   IN 

THE  TOMB 

JESUS  IN  THE  TOMB 

First  Night 

First  Day 

SecondNight 

Second  Day 

Jesus  was 

The  guard 

Returned 
and  prepar- 

And when 
the   Sabbath 

buried  as  the 

is  placed  at 

ed    spices 

was  past,  an- 

Sabbath was 
beginning.  — 

the    sepul- 
chre. 

Friday,    and 
on  the  Sab- 
bath   they 

nual  Sabbath 
Thursday, 
they   bought 

Luke  23:54. 

rested.  -Luke 

spices  on  Fri- 

23:56. 

day.  —Mark 

16:1. 

Saturday,  April    16th. 

Saturday,  April  16th. 

Nisan 

23rd. 

Nisan 

23rd. 

Jesus  in 

the  tomb 

Jesus  in 

the  tomb 

Third 

night 

Third  day 

RESURRECTION. 

"In  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath  as  the 

first  of  the 

week  was  beginning."  —  Matthew  28:1.   Jesus  said:  "For 

as  Jonah  was 

three  days  and  three  nights  in  the  belly  of 

the  whale,  so  shall  the  Son  of  Man  be  three  days  and 

three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the  earth."—  Matthew  12:40. 

The  Feast  of  Unleavened  Bread,  which 
is  Called  the  Passover— Luke  22:1 

CHAPTER  I. 
THE  PASSOVER  INSTITUTED. 

Exodus  12:1,  2,  3,  6,  8,  14. 

1.  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  Aaron 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  saying, 

2.  This  month  shall  be  unto  you  the  beginning 
of  months:  it  shall  be  the  first  month  of  the  year 
to  you. 

3.  Speak  ye  unto  all  the  congregation  of  Israel, 
saying,  In  the  tenth  day  of  this  month  they  shall 
take  to  them  every  man  a  lamb,  according  to  the 
house  of  their  fathers. 

6.  And  ye  shall  keep  it  up  until  the  fourteenth 
day  of  the  same  month:  and  the  whole  assembly 
of  the  congregation  of  Israel  shall  kill  it  in  the 
evening — "at  even  at  the  going  down  of  the  sun" 
(Deut.  16:6). 

8.  And  they  shall  eat  the  flesh  in  that  night, 
roast  with  fire,  and  unleavened  bread;  and  with 
bitter  herbs  they  shall  eat  it. 

14.  And  this  day  shall  be  unto  you  for  a 
memorial ;  and  ye  shall  keep  it  a  feast  to  the  Lord 
throughout  your  generations;  ye  shall  keep  it  a 
feast  by  an  ordinance  forever. 

As  the  events  connected  with  the  last  days  of  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  covered  the  time  of  the  Feast  of  Unleavened 

17 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Bread,  callevl  the  Passovev,  a  complete  knowledge  of  this 
f estiva/,  according  to  the  scriptures,  is  essential.  And  that 
the  time  and  oru^r  of  each  ^vent  may  be  known,  and  cor- 
rect conclusions  reached,  the  first  two  chapters  on  this 
feast  are  introduced  as  preliminary  to  the  discussion  of 
the  problems  of  Passion  week,  and  the  resurrection. 

1.  "And  the  Lord  spake."    Moses  and  Aaron  under  in- 
structions from  the  Lord,  institute  the  first  Passover  just 
before    the    departure    of    the     Israelites    from    Egyptian 
bondage,  and  three  months  before  the  law  was  given  on 
Sinai  (Ex.  19:1). 

2.  "This  month."     The  month  of  Abib— April.     In  this 
month  (or  moon)  the  Lord  thy  God  brought  thee  forth  out 
of  Egypt  by  night.    It  was  the  fifteenth  night  of  the  moon 
(Deut.  16:1). 

"It  shall  be  unto  you  the  beginning  of  months;  it  shall 
be  the  first  month  of  the  year."  The  first  month  or  moon 
of  the  Israelitish  sacred  year  was  called  Nisan  or  Abib, 
and  corresponds  to  March  or  April.  The  length  of  the 
months  was  regulated  by  the  changes  of  the  moon.  Their 
months  were  lunar  months.  Each  month  began  with  the 
new  moon.  After  the  Jews  left  Egypt  they  had  two  courses 
of  months;  one  making  the  civil,  and  the  other  the  sacred 
year.  The  former  commenced  from  the  new  moon  in  Sep- 
tember or  October;  and  the  latter  from  the  new  moon 
nearest  the  Vernal  Equinox — March  the  twenty-first.  In 
the  year  of  our  Lord,  1913,  the  Passover  was  observed  by 
the  Jews  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  April;  while  other  reli- 
gious denominations  celebrated  the  day — erroneously  call- 
ed Easter  Sunday,  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  March. 

3.  "Every  man  a  lamb."    The  passover  sacrifice  was  a 
lamb  or  kid  of  the  first  year,  a  male  without  blemish.     It 
was  put  up  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  month;   and  on  the 
fourteenth  day  of  the  same  month  it  was  killed,  in  the 
evening,  "at  the  going  down  of  the  sun"  (Deut.  16:6). 

18 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

8.     "And  they  shall  eat  the  flesh  in  that  night"     The 

night  was  the  fifteenth  night  of  the   (moon)  month. 

14.  ''And  this  day.'5  Day  refers  to  the  light  period  of 
twelve  hours  that  followed  the  night  in  which  they  ate 
the  flesh  of  the  paschal  lamb.  It  was  the  fifteenth  day 
of  the  first  month — Nisan  or  Abib — of  the  sacred  year.  A 
memorial  day.  "Ye  shall  keep  it  a  feast  by  an  ordinance 
forever"  (Ex.  12:14). 

One  year  later,  the  tabernacle  had  been  set  up;  and 
Aaron  and  his  sons  were  consecrated  to  the  priesthood; 
when  God,  from  out  the  tabernacle  spake  unto  Moses  con- 
cerning the  feasts  which  were  definitely  established  by  an 
ordinance. 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  PASSOVER  ESTABLISHED  BY  AN  ORDI- 
NANCE—THE FEAST  OF  UNLEAVEN- 
ED BREAD. 

Leviticus  23rd  Chapter. 
1.     And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 

4.  These  are  the  feasts  of  the  Lord,  even  holy 
convocations,   which   ye  shall   proclaim   in   their 
seasons. 

5.  In  the  14th  day  of  the  first  month  at  even 
is  the  Lord's  passover. 

6.  And  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  same  month 
is  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  unto  the  Lord: 
seven  days  ye  must  eat  unleavened  bread. 

7.  In  the  first  day  ye  shall  have  an  holy  con- 
vocation: ye  shall  do  no  servile  work  therein. 

8.  In  the  seventh  day  is  an  holy  convocation: 
ye  shall  do  no  servile  work  therein.    But  ye  shall 
offer  an  offering  made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord  seven 
days. 

1.  "The  Lord  spake  unto  Moses."  Before  leaving  Egypt 
the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  Moses  concerning  the  passover; 
and  afterwards  said  unto  him,  "Write  thou  these  words" 
(Ex.  34:27).  A  year  has  passed,  and  the  Israelites  are  en- 
camped at  Mt.  Sinai;  where  the  tabernacle  has  been  erect- 
ed. Aaron  and  his  sons  have  been  consecrated  to  the 
priesthood,  and  God's  covenant  with  Israel  is  promulgated 
from  Sinai,  fully  established,  by  an  ordinance. 

"And  Moses  wrote  this  law,  and  delivered  it  unto  the 
priests,  the  sons  of  Levi,"  etc.  (Deut.  31:9). 

Now,  therefore  hearken,  O  Israel:  "Ye  shall  not  add 
unto  the  word  which  I  command  you,  neither  shall  ye 
dimmish  from  it,"  etc.  (Deut.  4:1-2). 

"And  thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children" 
(Deut.  6:7). 

20 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Everything  we  teach  concerning  the  Christian  religion, 
should  be  found  on  the  Divine  record:  Whatsoever  "God 
spake  in  times  past,  unto  Moses  directly,  or  to  the  fathers 
by  the  prophets,  or  what  he  hath  in  these  last  days  spoken 
unto  us  by  his  Son,"  an  inspired  record  thereof,  has  been 
made  by  the  sacred  writers,  of  all  that  should  be  taught, 
without  adding  to,  or  diminishing  therefrom.  Too  many 
who  would  teach  the  words  of  the  gospel,  give  us  the  sub- 
stance, between  the  lines,  instead  of  the  lines. 

4.  "These  are  the  feasts  of  the  Lord,  even  holy  convo- 
cations."    Concerning  the   feasts;    only   the   feast  of  un- 
leavened bread,  which  is  called  the  Passover  will  be  con- 
sidered;  as  it  alone  is  connected  with  the  events  of  the 
last  Passover  week. 

5.  "In  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  first  month.5'     In  the 
year  of  our  Lord  30,  Nisan  the  14th  fell  upon  Thursday, 
April  the  7th.     It  was  the  Preparation  day  for  the  annual 
Sabbath,  Friday,  Nisan  the  15th,  the  first  day  of  the  feast 
of  unleavened  bread.     On  this  Preparation  day,  all  leaven 
was   removed   from  their  houses,   and   the  paschal   lamb, 
or  kid,  was  killed,  as  no  servile  work  could  be  done  on 
an  Annual  Sabbath. 

"Ye  shall  keep  my  Sabbaths,  and  reverence  my 
sanctuary"  (Lev.  19:30).  The  Lord  gave  other  Sabbaths, 
besides  the  weekly  Sabbath  for  the  Jews  to  keep. 

"From  evening  unto  evening  shall  ye  celebrate  your 
Sabbath"  (Lev.  23:32). 

6.  "And   on  the  fifteenth   day   of  the   same   month   is 
the  Feast  of  Unleavened  Bread,"  "which  is  called  the  Pass- 
over"  (Luke  22:1).     The  last  Feast  of  Unleavened  Bread, 
under  the  law,  was  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  thirty.     It  be- 
gan Friday,  April  8th,  which  was  the  fifteenth  day  of  the 
first  month,  of  the  Jews'  sacred  year,  and  continued  seven 
days,   ending  at   sunset,   Thursday,  Nisan   the   21st,   April 
the  14th. 

7.  "The  first  day  ye  shall  have  a  holy  convocation;"  and 
"in  the  seventh  day  is  a  holy  convocation." 

21 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

The  first  day  of  the  feast,  Friday,  Nisan  15th,  and  the 
seventh  day,  Thursday,  Nisan  21st,  were  both  Sabcath 
days — annual  Sabbaths,  holy  convocations,  at  which  time 
the  people  assembled  at  the  tabernacle,  or  temple,  for 
religious  purposes,  to  offer  sacrifices  to  the  Lord. 

The  holy  convocation  on  the  seventh  day — the  weekly 
Sabbath,  was  an  assembly  of  families;  each  family  in  their 
own  home  (Lev.  23:3),  and  they  were  commanded  to 
remain  there  until  the  Sabbath  was  pasi. 

"Let  no  man  go  out  of  his  place  on  the  seventh  day" 
{Ex.  16:29).  No  religious  act  was  required  of  the  people 
on  the  weekly  Sabbath,  other  than  obedience  to  that  which 
was  commanded:  And  it  is  said  that,  "Behold  to  obey 
is  tetter  than  sacrifice"  (I  Samuel  15:22). 

The  weekly  Sabbath  had  no  preparation  day,  further 
than  to  provide  on  the  sixth  day,  for  the  necessary  wants 
of  the  family  on  the  Sabbath  (Ex.  16:22-23). 

No  offerings  were  made  on  the  weekly  Sabbath,  ex- 
cept the  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  by  the  priests, 
-and  the  changing  of  the  shew  bread.  But,  Thursday,  Nisan 
14th,  and  Wednesday,  Nisan  the  20th,  of  the  last  Passover 
week,  were  both  Preparation  days — days  before  the  annual 
Sabbaths. 


22 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  III. 
JESUS  PREPARES  TO  EAT  THE  PASSOVER. 

Matthew  26:17-18-19-20. 

17.  Now  the  first  day  of  the  unleavened  bread, 
the   disciples   came   to  Jesus   saying   unto   Him, 
Where  wilt  thou  that  we  prepare  for  thee  to  eat 
the  passover? 

18.  And  he  said,  Go  into  the  city  to  such  a 
man,  and  say  unto  him,  The  Master  saith.  My 
time  is  at  hand;  I  will  keep  the  passover  at  thy 
house,  with  my  disciples. 

19.  And  the  disciples  did  as  Jesus  had  appoint- 
ed them;  and  they  made  ready  the  passover. 

20.  Now  when  the  even  was  come  he  sat  down 
with  the  twelve. 

Mark  14:12-13-14-15-16-17. 

12.  And  the  first    day    of    unleavened    bread 
when  they  killed  the  passover,  his  disciples  said 
unto  him,  Where  wilt  thou  that  we  go  and  pre- 
pare, that  thou  mayest  eat  the  passover? 

13.  And  he  sendeth  forth  two  of  his  disciples, 
and  saith  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  the  city,  and 
there  shall  meet  you  a  man  bearing  a  pitcher  of 
water :  follow  him. 

14.  And  wheresoever  he  shall  go  in,  say  ye  to 
the  good  man  of  the  house,  The  Master  saith, 
Where  is  the  guest  chamber,  where  I  shall  eat  the 
passover  with  my  disciples? 

15.  And  he  will  show  you  a  large  upper  room 
furnished  and  prepared :  there  make  ready  for  us. 

16.  And  his  disciples  went  forth,  and  came  into 
the  city,  and  found  as  he  had  said  unto  them :  and 
they  made  ready  the  passover. 

17.  And  in  the  evening  he  cometh  with  the 
twelve. 

23 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 
Luke  22:7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14. 

7.  Then  came  the  day  of  unleavened  bread 
when  the  passover  must  be  killed. 

8.  And  he  sent  Peter  and  John,  saying,  Go 
and  prepare  us  the  passover,  that  we  may  eat. 

9.  And  they  said  unto  him,  Where  wilt  thou 
that  we  prepare? 

10.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Behold,  when  ye 
are  entered  into  the  city,  there  shall  a  man  meet 
you,  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water,  follow  him  into 
the  house  where  he  entereth  in. 

11.  And  ye  shall  say  unto  the  good  man  of  the 
house,  The  Master  saith  unto  thee,  Where  is  the 
guest  chamber,  where  I  shall  eat  the  passover 
with  my  disciples? 

12.  And  he  will  show  you  a  large  upper  room 
furnished:  there  make  ready. 

13.  And  they  went  and  found  as  he  had  said 
unto  them:  and  they  made  ready  the  passover. 

14.  And  when  the  hour  was  come,  he  sat  down, 
and  the  twelve  apostles  with  him. 

WHEN  DID  JESUS  EAT  THE  PASSOVER? 

With  the  testimony  of  Matthew,  Mark  and  Luke  before 
us,  it  would  be  an  insult  to  the  intelligence  of  the  ordinary 
Bible  student,  to  ask,  When  did  Jesus  eat  the  passover? 
Yet  there  are  many  whose  theories  cast  doubt  upon  the 
statements  of  the  sacred  writers,  as  to  the  time  of  this 
event 

Matthew  27:17,  says,  "Now  the  first  day  of  unleavened 
bread,  the  disciples  came  to  Jesus  saying  unto  him,  Where 
wilt  thou  that  we  prepare  for  thee  to  eat  the  passover?" 
Mark  14:12,  "And  the  first  day  of  unleavened  bread,  when 
they  killed  the  passover,"  etc. 

Luke  22:7,  "Then  came  the  day  of  unleavened  bread 
when  the  passover  must  be  killed." 

On  what  day  must  the  passover  be  killed?     "Ye  shall 

24 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

keep  it  up  until  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  same  month; 
and  the  whole  assembly  of  Israel  shall  kill  it  in  the  even- 
ing" (Ex.  12:6).  "At  even,  at  the  going  down  of  the  sun" 
(Deut.  16:6). 

The  fourteenth  day  of  the  first  month,  Nisan,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord,  thirty,  fell  on  Thursday,  April  the  seventh, 
which  was  the  first  preparation  day,  for  the  "Feast  of  un- 
leavened bread,  which  is  called  the  passover"  (Luke  22:1). 

On  this  day,  Jesus  instructed  Peter  and  John  to  go  into 
the  city  and  prepare  the  passover  (Luke  22:8). 

"And  they  went  and  found  as  he  had  said  unto  them: 
and  they  made  ready  the  passover"  (Luke  22:13). 

"And  when  the  hour  was  come  he  sat  down,  and  the 
twelve  apostles  with  him"  (Luke  22:14).  Therefore  we 
conclude  that,  according  to  the  scriptures,  Jesus,  with  the 
twelve  apostles,  ate  the  passover  at  the  legal  time — 
Thursday  night,  April  7th9  which  was,  Jewish  time,  the 
15th  night  of  the  month,  Nisan.  (The  night  precedes  the 
day).  And  the  testimony  of  the  sacred  writers,  upon 
which  this  conclusion  is  founded,  cannot  be  set  aside. 
These  declarations  of  Divine  truth  will  stand  forever. 
Many  theories  of  "eminent  experts — great  authorities'^?) 
— on  this  question,  are  more  or  less,  a  jumble  of  contra- 
dictions, and  out  of  all  harmony  with  the  scriptures.  They 
must  fall.  Their  speculations  have  been  compiled  from 
encyclopedias,  and  the  dogmatics  of  biblical  scholars  of 
ancient  and  modern  history;  and  their  conclusions  are 
not  based  on  the  simple  facts  of  the  gospel. 

Great  authority.  There  is  no  great  authority,  except 
that  which  comes  from  Him,  to  whom  all  authority  is 
given,  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  "And  ye  are  witnesses  of 
these  things"  (Luke  24:48). 

In  a  pamphlet  entitled  the  Problems  of  Passion  Week,  is 
found  an  argument  upon  the  great  assumption;  page  680, 
says:  "That  certain  passages  (Luke  XXII,  8-11-13-15, 
Mark  XIV,  12-14-16-17,  Matthew  XXVI,  17-19),  refer  to 

25 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

events  before  the  crucifixion/'  And  this  statement  of  the 
writer  is  true,  and  needs  no  explanation.  It  is  also  stated, 
"that  John  XVIII,  28,  refers  to  events  after  the  crucifixion, 
is  too  plain  to  need  comment." 

Let  us  carefully  examine  John  18:28:  "Then  led  they 
Jesus  from  Caiaphas  unto  the  hall  of  judgment:  and  it 
was  early;  and  they  themselves  went  not  into  the  judgment 
hall,  lest  they  should  be  defiled;  but  that  they  might  eat 
the  passover." 

Jesus  had  been  betrayed  and  arrested  in  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemane;  where  he  was  bound  and  led  away  to  Annas, 
before  whom  he  had  his  first  trial.  Annas  sent  him  bound 
to  Caiaphas;  from  Caiaphas  they  led  Jesus  to  Pilate's 
judgment  hall.  If  Jesus  was  led  from  Caiaphas  to  the 
judgment  hall,  after  his  crucifixion,  the  writer  fails  to  com- 
prehend such  a  declaration;  and  according  to  the  scrip- 
tures, this  was  not  true.  But  the  issue  is  joined:  and  they 
who  would  make  such  an  assumption,  can  continue  the 
contest  with  the  writers  who  bore  witness  to  the  truth. 
That  on  Thursday,  Nisan  the  fourteenth,  Jesus  sent  Peter 
and  John  into  the  city,  where  they  prepared  the  passover; 
and  when  even  was  come  he  sat  down  with  the  twelve. 

To  those  who  claim  that  Jesus  was  crucified  on  Thurs- 
day, in  order  to  fulfil  the  type  of  the  dying  lamb,  the  writer 
suggests  that,  it  would  be  better  to  follow  the  literal  facts 
of  the  scriptures,  for  a  clear  and  intelligent  understand- 
ing of  the  events  of  passion  week,  than  to  wander  in  the 
maze  of  types  and  shadows,  which  are  not  complete  in 
their  application  to  the  event. 

It  is  evident  that  the  testimony  of  John  is  not  in  ac- 
cord with  the  enlarged  vision  of  some,  who  in  their  imagin- 
ation "see  men  as  trees  walking."  But,  it  is  only  by  the 
power  of  Divine  testimony,  that  error  can  be  refuted,  and 
truth  established.  "John  18:28,  refers  to  events  after  the 
crucifixion."  How  could  this  be  true?  Shall  we  assume 
that  we  should  change  the  sacred  record  of  the  time  of 

26 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

an  event,  because  we  are  unable  to  harmonize  the  truths 
written  by  those  who  were  witnesses  of  these  things? 
Perish  the  thought. 

Jesus  was  led  to  Pilate's  judgment  hall  and  it  was  early 
in  the  morning.  This  was  his  first  trial  before  Pilate; 
he  had  not  yet  been  sent  to  Herod;  and  the  passover  would 
not  end  until  the  next  Thursday,  Nisan  the  21st,  at  sun- 
.set;  therefore,  they  would  not  enter  the  judgment  hall. 
They  believed  they  would  be  defiled  if  they  entered  the 
house  of  a  Gentile;  and  if  defiled,  they  could  not  keep  the 
feast  OL  unleavened  bread  during  the  last  days  of  the 
passover. 

If  we  would  remember  what  Luke  says,  and  his  word 
should  abide  in  us,  as  it  is  written,  we  would  be  able  to 
rightly  divide  the  word  of  truth.  "Now  the  feast  of  un- 
leavened bread  drew  nigh,  which  is  called  the  passover" 
(Luke  22:1).  Why  called  the  passover?  "I  will  pass  over 
you"  (Ex.  12:13).  "And  this  day  (the  15th  day  of  Nisan, 
passover  day),  shall  be  unto  you  for  a  memorial,  and  ye 
shall  keep  it  (the  passover),  a  feast  to  the  Lord" — how? 
"By  an  ordinance  forever"  (Ex.  12:14). 

"By  an  ordinance.'9  Hence,  when  the  Jews  were  keeping 
the  last  feast  of  unleavened  bread,  for  seven  days  in  Jeru- 
salem; from  the  14th  day  of  the  month,  at  even,  until  the 
one  and  twentieth  day  at  even;  they  were  keeping  the 
passover,  each,  and  every  day,  as  the  law  required.  The 
killing  and  eating  of  the  lamb  on  the  15th  night  of  the 
(moon)  month,  would  not  be  keeping  the  passover  in  its 
entirety,  and  according  to  the  ordinance.  And  when  it 
was  said,  they  would  not  enter  the  judgment  hall  lest 
they  should  be  defiled;  but  that  they  might  eat  the  pass- 
over,  did  not  refer  to  the  eating  of  the  paschal  lamb,  for 
they  had  already  partaken  of  this  sacrifice,  at  the  legal 
time;  on  Thursday  night,  Nisan  14th;  the  first  night  of  the 
feast;  and  at  the  same  time  that  Jesus  ate  it  with  his 
disciples.  But,  to  keep  the  passover  as  the  law  required, 

27 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

they  must  continue  the  feast  until  the  21st  day  of  the 
month,  at  even;  and  if  they  become  defiled  they  could  not 
continue  to  partake  of  the  feast,  which  is  called  the  pass- 
over. 

It  should  be  noticed  that,  when  Jesus  sent  Peter  and 
John  into  the  city,  where  they  made  ready  the  passover, 
the  killing  and  dressing  of  the  lamb,  was  not  all  the  pre- 
paration that  would  be  required  to  complete,  or  make 
ready  the  passover  for  the  entire  week. 

For  after  the  Passover  lamb  had  been  eaten,  and  just  be- 
fore Judas  went  out  to  betray  his  Master:  "Some  thought 
that  Jesus  had  said  unto  him,  Buy  what  things  we  have 
need  of  for  the  feast."  Moreover,  the  arrest  of  Peter  by 
Herod  (Acts  12:3-4),  shows  that,  "Then  were  the  days  of 
unleavened  bread" — seven  days,  Passover  week.  Herod 
put  him  in  prison  intending  after  the  Passover,  to  bring 
him  forth  to  the  people.  After  the  Passover  would  be  at 
the  end  of  the  seven  days  of  unleavened  bread. 

The  word  Easter  is  not  in  the  original  text,  and  is  now 
uniformly  translated  correctly, — Passover.  Webster  de- 
fines Easter,  The  festival  of  Christ's  resurrection.  While 
the  scriptures  teach  that,  it.  was  the  day  of  His  trial  be- 
fore Caiaphas.  There  is  no  trace  of  the  celebration  of 
Easter  as  a  Christian  festival  in  the  New  Testament,  or  in 
the  writings  of  the  Apostolic  fathers. 

Whither  are  we  drifting?  "These  things  saith  the  Son 
of  God,  hold  fast  till  I  come."  If  we  would  do  this,  we 
must  cease  to  pervert  the  word  of  God  by  making  mer- 
chandise of  a  day  of  festivities  to  a  Pagan  goddess. 

When  teaching  the  scriptures  the  Lord  warns  us  to 
"hearken  unto  the  statutes  which  I  teach  you,  ye  shall  not 
add  unto  the  word,  neither  shall  ye  diminish  from  it" 
(Deut.  4:1,  2). 

Matthew,  Mark  and  Luke  say,  that  Jesus  sent  His  dis- 
ciples into  the  city  on  the  preparation  day  to  make  ready 
the  passover.  And  that  they  went  and  found  as  Jesus 

28 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

said,  and  made  ready  the  passover;  and  when  even  was 
come,  Jesus  sat  down  and  the  twelve  apostles  with  him. 
These  writers  tell  the  truth.  But  many  in  their  efforts 
to  explain  the  events  of  Passion  week  become  badly  con- 
fused with  the  traditions  of  men. 

It  is  true,  that  the  Master  sent  Peter  and  John  into  the 
city,  on  preparation  day  to  make  ready  the  passover;  but 
that  was  not  the  preparation  day,  on  which  Pilate  sen- 
tenced Jesus,  and  on  which  he  was  crucified.  As  we  have 
already  stated;  there  were  two  preparation  days;  the  first, 
en  Thursday,  Nisan  the  fourteenth;  and  the  second  on 
Wednesday,  Nisan  the  twentieth.  On  the  first,  Peter  and 
John  prepared  the  passover;  and  in  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  after  sunset,  Jesus  ate  the  passover  with  the 
twelve  apostles. 

"At  the  sixth  hour,'5 — six  o'clock  in  the  morning — Roman 
court  time — on  Wednesday,  Nisan  the  twentieth,  the  second 
preparation  day,  the  day  before  the  annual  Sabbath,  Nisan 
the  twenty-first,  Pilate  "delivered  Him  to  be  crucified" 
(John  19:16).  On  this  day  at  nine  o'clock  a.  m.,  Jesus 
was  crucified.  Therefore,  according  to  the  scriptures,  the 
eating  of  the  passover,  after  sunset,  and  the  crucifixion  at 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  could  not  have  taken  place 
on  the  same  day.  To  claim  that  Jesus  was  crucified  on 
Thursday,  Nisan  14th,  is  a  baseless  fabrication,  and  at 
variance  with  the  Divine  record. 

Another  assumption  prevails,  that  Jesus  changed  the 
time  of  eating  the  passover,  and  ate  it  one  day  before  the 
regular  time.  But,  Jesus  said  unto  his  disciples,  "Ye 
know  that  after  two  days  is  the  passover"  (Matt.  26:1-2). 

According  to  the  blind  leaders  of  the  blind,  Jesus  should 
have  said,  Ye  know  that  after  one  day,  I  will  eat  the  pass- 
over.  Such  an  assumption  is  absurd,  and  could  find  place 
cnly  in  the  imagination  of  a  confused  mind.  If  there  had 
been  a  change,  the  gospel  writers  would  have  so  record- 

29 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ed  it,  and  not  otherwise.  Let  us  stand  by  the  record,  and1 
not  diminish  therefrom. 

The  change  of  time  for  the  observance  of  the  feast  of 
unleavened  bread,  which  is  called  the  passover,  was  tem- 
porary, and  for  special  reasons;  and  was  not  made  by 
Moses  and  Hezekiah,  arbitrarily,  but  by  the  authority  and 
with  the  approval  of  God.  (See  Num.  9:9-10,  and  2nd 
Chron.,  3rd  Chapter). 

He  that  does  not  build  on  a  "thus  saith  the  Lord,"  builds 
on  the  sand;  and  his  material,  when  tested,  will  be  as 
wood,  hay  and  stubble.  When  we  are  teaching  the  word 
of  God,  we  must  not  assume  to  teach  anything  not  written 
on  the  record.  Learn  a  lesson  from  Jesus,  in  his  great 
controversy  with  the  devil.  He  wielded  the  sword  of  the 
spirit,  the  word  of  God,  and  called  the  attention  of  his 
satanic  majesty  to  this  fact:  "It  is  written." 

Three  times  he  replied  to  his  adversary,  and  each  time 
quoting  the  scriptures.  His  answers  are  found  in  Deuter- 
onomy, the  sixth  and  eighth  chapters.  Satan,  to  justify 
his  second  request,  said,  "for  it  is  written,"  and  quotes 
from  the  91st  Psalm;  but,  like  a  deceiver  that  he  is,  garbled 
the  scriptures,  omitting  that  part  not  suited  to  his  pur- 
pose. Now  what  should  be  said  about  great  authorities, 
men  of  eminent  ability,  who  make  great  assumptions  con- 
cerning the  events  of  Passion  week,  and  not  a  word  of  "It 
is  written."  It  is  argument  without  proof. 

The  theories  of  men,  are  not  a  feather's  weight  in  the 
balances  of  truth;  and  it  would  be  an  impious  hand,  that 
would  pen  a  line,  in  effort  to  substitute  an  opinion  for  the 
word  of  God.  But,  pervert  it  as  we  may,  we  cannot  dim  its 
lustre,  nor  extinguish  its  light.  The  opinions  of  men  leave 
us  in  doubt,  but  truth  carries  conviction. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  with  the  testimony  of  the  scrip^ 
tures,  stating  the  exact  time  that  Jesus  ate  the  passover, 
there  are  many  teachers  of  recognized  ability,  who  fail 
to  consider  these  definite  statements,  of  incontrovertible 

30 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

facts,  as  the  only  evidence  from  which  a  correct  conclu- 
sion can  be  reached.  Where  do  we  find  any  evidence  that 
would  impeach  the  inspired  witnesses?  "If  we  would  seek 
knowledge  beyond  the  truths  revealed  to  us,  we  grope  in 
the  dark;  and  both  language  and  thought  fail  us.  We 
have  reached  the  limit  of  finite  knowledge." 


31 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  LORD'S  SUPPER  INSTITUTED. 

And  as  they  were  eating,  Jesus  took  bread  and 
blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  the  dis- 
ciples, and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body. 
(Matt.  26:26). 

And  he  took  the  cup  and  gave  thanks,  and  gave 
it  to  them,  saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it.  (Matt. 
26:27). 

And  he  took  bread,  and  gave  thanks,  and  brake 
it,  and  gave  unto  them,  saying,  This  is  my  body 
which  is  given  for  you:  this  do  in  remembrance 
of  me.  (Luke  22:19). 

Likewise  also  the  cup  after  supper,  saying, 
This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my  blood,  which 
is  shed  for  you.  (Luke  22:20). 

"But,  behold,  the  hand  of  him  that  betrayeth 
me  is  with  me  on  the  table.  (Luke  22:21). 

Lord,  who  is  it?     (John  13:25). 

Jesus  answered,  He  it  is  to  whom  I  shall  give 
a  sop,  when  I  have  dipped  it.  And  when  he  had 
dipped  the  sop,  he  gave  it  to  Judas  Iscariot,  the 
son  of  Simon.  (John  13:26). 

He  then  having  received  the  sop,  went  im- 
mediately out;  and  it  was  night.  (John  13:30). 

And  when  they  had  sung  an  hymn  they  went 
out  unto  the  Mount  of  Olives  (Mark  14:26). 

For  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  that  which  I 
also  delivered  unto  you,  That  the  Lord  Jesus.,  the 
same  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed  took  bread: 
And  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and 
said,  Take,  eat ;  this  is  my  body,  which  is  broken 
for  you;  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me.  (I  Cor. 
11:23-24). 

And  upon  the  first  (day)  of  the  week,  when  the 

32 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

disciples  came  together  to  break  bread,  Paul 
preached  unto  them,  ready  to  depart  on  the  mor- 
row; and  continued  his  speech  until  midnight. 
(Acts  20:7). 

When  and  where  did  Jesus  institute  the  Lord's  supper? 
During  Friday,  Nisan  the  fifteenth,  and  Saturday,  Nisan 
the  sixteenth,  the  annual  and  weekly  Sabbaths;  Jesus  with 
the  twelve  apostles  remained  in  that  upper  room  in  the 
city  of  Jerusalem,  where  they  observed  the  first  day  of  the 
feast  of  unleavened  bread  on  Friday,  and  kept  the  weekly 
Sabbath  on  Saturday,  according  to  the  commandment,  "Let 
no  man  go  out  of  his  place  on  the  Sabbath  day"  (Ex. 
18:23). 

As  Jesus  kept  the  law,  and  the  Jews  were  especially 
careful  to  observe  the  law  of  their  Sabbaths, — we  affirm 
that  the  scriptures  teach,  that  Jesus  was  neither  arrested, 
tried,  sentenced  or  crucified  on  a  feast  day  or  Sabbath  day. 
Friday,  Nisan  15th,  was  the  first  feast  day.  Thursday, 
Nisan  21st,  was  the  last  feast  day. 

And  when  the  weekly  Sabbath  was  past  the  Lord's  sup- 
per was  instituted  at  the  time  stated  in  the  scriptures; 
upon  Saturday  night,  the  first  night  of  the  week.  The 
Sabbath  which  began  at  sunset  Friday  evening,  ended  at 
sunset  Saturday  evening;  at  which  time  the  first  night  of 
the  week  began. 

In  reckoning  Jewish  time,  remember  that  the  night  pre- 
cedes the  day,  and  it  is  no  part  of  the  day.  "When  God 
created  light,  and  divided  it  from  the  darkness;  He  called 
the  light  day  and  the  darkness  he  called  night"  (Gen.  1:5). 
"And  God  said,  Let  there  be  lights  in  the  firmament  of  the 
heaven,  to  divide  between  the  day  and  between  the  night" 
(Gen.  1:14).  They  are  separate  and  distinct  periods  of 
time.  The  night  was  divided  into  watches,  and  the  day 
into  hours.  Jesus  said,  "Are  there  not  twelve  hours  in  a 
day?"  (John  11:9). 

33 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"And  upon  the  first  (day)  of  the  week,  when  the  dis- 
ciples came  together  to  break  bread,  Paul  preached  unto 
them,  and  he  continued  his  speech  until  midnight"  (Acts 
20:7). 

The  word  day  is  supplied;  is  not  in  the  original  text; 
and  should  read  upon  the  first  of  the  week,  which  began  at 
sunset  Saturday  evening.  Paul  "continued  his  speech  until 
midnight."  Hence  we  learn  that  it  was  night,  not  day.  It 
was  the  first  night,  preceding  the  first  day  of  the  week;  or 
as  one  authority  explains  it;  "the  night  is  the  first  half  of 
each  day."  While  we  are  not  ready  to  admit  that  darkness 
is  light,  the  explanation  supports  our  contention;  that  it 
was  on  the  first  night  of  the  week, — Saturday  night, — that 
Paul  met  with  the  disciples  at  Troas;  and  not  on  Sunday 
night,  as  some  think,  which  would  be  the  second  night  of 
the  week.  Furthermore,  the  early  disciples  always  met  at 
that  time;  and  many  then  living  had  personal  knowledge 
of  the  exact  time  of  the  betrayal;  and  when  they  met  upon 
the  first  night  of  the  week,  at  Troas,  to  break  bread,  they 
knew  they  were  observing  this  supper  at  the  usual  time. 

One  of  the  leading  religious  journals  of  this  country, 
in  answering  a  query  on  this  subject,  said,  "The  apostles 
fixed  this  matter  by  observing  it  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week."  Paul  says  (I  Cor.  11:23),  that  this  memorial  sup- 
per was  instituted  in  the  night.  Luke  and  Paul  are  true 
witnesses.  Let  us  stand  by  their  testimony.  The  writer 
is  not  a  stickler  for  an  exact  time  for  the  observance  of 
this  ordinance,  because  the  time  is  not  mandatory;  yet  he 
believes  in  its  weekly  celebration.  "For  as  often  as  ye  eat 
this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  shew  forth  the  Lord's 
death  till  he  come"  (I  Cor.  11:26),  which  is  still  the  pur- 
pose of  this  memorial  institution. 


34 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  V. 
THE  BETRAYAL  AND  ARREST  OF  JESUS. 

John  13:2,  18,  19,  21,  23,  25,  26,  27,  30. 

2.  And  supper  being  ended,  the  devil  having 
now  put  into  the  heart  of  Judas  Iscariot,  Simon's 
son,  to  betray  him. 

18.  I  speak  not  of  you  all:    I  know  whom  I 
have  chosen:    but  that  the  scripture  may  be  ful- 
filled, He  that  eateth  bread  with  me,  lifted  up  his 
heel  against  me. 

19.  Now  I  tell  you  before  it  come,  that,  when 
it  is  come  to  pass,  ye  may  believe  that  I  am  he. 

21.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that  one  of 
you  shall  betray  me. 

23.  Now  there  was  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom 
one  of  his  disciples  whom  Jesus  loved. 

25.  He  then  lying  on  Jesus'  breast  saith  unto 
him,  Lord,  who  is  it? 

28.  Jesus  answered,  He  it  is,  to  whom  I  shall 
give  a  sop,  when  I  have  dipped  it.  And  when  he 
had  dipped  the  sop,  he  gave  it  to  Judas  Iscariot, 
the  son  of  Simon. 

27.  And  after  the  sop  Satan  entered  into  him. 
Then  said  Jesus  unto  him,  That  thou  doest,  do 
quickly. 

30.  He  then,  having  received  the  sop,  went 
immediately  out:  and  it  was  night. 

And  when  they  had  sung  a  hymn,  they  went 
out  into  the  mount  of  Olives  (Matt.  26:30).  To 
a  place  which  was  named  Gethsemane  (Mark 
14:32).  A  garden  (John  18:1). 

And  Judas  also,  which  betrayed  Him  knew  the 
place:  for  Jesus  ofttimes  resorted  thither  with 
his  disciples  (John  18:2). 

Judas  then,  having  received  a  band  of  men  and 

35 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

officers  from  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees, 
cometh  thither  with  lanterns  and  torches  and 
weapons  (John  18:3). 

Jesus  therefore,  knowing  all  things  that  should 
come  upon  him,  went  forth,  and  said  unto  them, 
Whom  seek  ye?  (John  18:4). 

They  answered  him,  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Jesus 
^saith  unto  them,  I  am  he.  And  Judas  also,  which 
betrayed  him,  stood  with  them  (John  18:5). 

Then  the  band  and  the  captain  and  officers  of 
the  Jews  took  Jesus,  and  bound  him  (John  18:12). 

If  the  evidence  submitted  in  Chapter  Four  is  sufficient  to 
establish  the  fact  that  the  Lord's  Supper  was  instituted 
on  Saturday  night,  no  further  testimony  is  required,  than 
Paul's  corroborative  statement  showing  that  Jesus  was  be- 
trayed the  same  night  in  which  he  took  bread  (I  Cor. 
3.1:23). 

Why  Was  Jesus  Arrested? 

Jesus  had  frequent  religious  controversies  with  the 
Jewish  hierarchy,  and  had  put  them  to  silence.  He  had 
denounced  them  in  the  most  vigorous  language,  as  being 
fools,  blind  guides,  murderers,  etc.  (Matt.  23rd  Chapter). 

"Then  in  the  audience  of  all  the  people,  he  said  unto 
his  disciples,  Beware  of  the  scribes,  which  desire  to  walk 
in  long  robes,  and  love  greetings  in  the  markets,  and  the 
highest  seats  in  the  synagogues,"  etc.  (Luke  20:45-46). 

"AH  the  people"  were  the  multitudes,  "the  common  peo- 
ple, who  heard  him  gladly;"  they  were  his  friends  (Mark 
12:37).  And  before  all  the  people,  Jesus  taught  his  doc- 
trine, and  exposed  the  hypocrisy  of  the  Pharisees,  scrij.es 
and  rulers  with  epithets  uncomplimentary  to  their  official 
station  and  religious  character.  He  referred  to  the  long 
robes  in  which  they  desired  to  walk,  and  their  love  to  be 
called  Rabbi,  Rabbi.  Jesus  was  telling  the  truth,  and  be- 
cause of  the  truth  they  sought  to  kill  him.  Does  this  offend 
you?  (John  6:61). 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

There  are  many  this  day  who  murmur  at  the  truth:  some 
who  love  to  wear  the  long  robes;  and  still  others  of 
modern  times  who  love  to  be  called  Rev.,  Doctor,  etc.;  and 
would  feel  that  an  important  distinctive  appellation  had 
been  omitted,  if  one  should  fail  to  thus  address  them.  Is 
not  the  name  Paul,  Peter,  or  John  sufficient?  However, 
the  Jewish  dignitaries  were  angered  at  Jesus  for  his 
public  exposure  of  their  true  character. 

But  it  was  not  until  after  the  raising  of  Lazarus  from 
the  dead,  that  they  took  counsel  together  for  to  put  him 
to  death. 

Many  believed  on  him  when  they  had  seen  the  things 
Jesus  did.  "But  some  of  them  went  their  ways  to  the 
Pharisees,  and  told  them  the  things  which  Jesus  had 
done"  (John  11:46). 

"Then  gathered  the  chief  priests  and  the  Pharisees  a 
council,  and  said,  What  do  we?  for  this  man  doeth  many 
miracles"  (John  11:47). 

"If  we  let  him  thus  alone,  all  men  will  believe  on  him: 
and  the  Romans  shall  come  and  take  away  both  our  place 
and  nation"  (John  11:48). 

"And  one  of  them,  named  Caiaphas,  being  the  high  priest 
that  same  year,  said  unto  them,  Ye  know  nothing  at  all, 

"Nor  consider  that  it  is  expedient  for  us,  that  one  man 
should  die  for  the  people,  and  that  the  whole  nation  perish 
not"  (John  11:49,  50). 

"And  this  spake  he  not  of  himself:  but  being  high  priest 
that  year,  he  prophesied  that  Jesus  should  die  for  that 
nation. 

"And  not  for  that  nation  only,  but  that  also  he  should 
gather  together  in  one  the  children  of  God  that  were  scat- 
tered abroad"  (John  11:51-52). 

And  this  prophecy  of  Caiaphas,  approved  by  the  council,, 
sounded  the  death  knell  of  Jesus;  and  the  reasons  set 
forth  seemed  to  them  to  be  ample  for  his  arrest  and  con- 
demnation. 

37 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"Then,  from  that  day  forth  they  took  counsel  together 
for  to  put  him  to  death"  (John  11:53). 

Had  they  sufficient  reasons  for  their  hatred  against 
Jesus?  No,  said  the  psalmist,  "They  that  hate  me  with- 
out a  cause,  are  more  than  the  hairs  of  mine  head;  they 
that  would  destroy  me,  being  mine  enemies  wrongfully, 
are  mighty"  (Psa.  69:4). 

Jesus  had  given  the  Pharisees,  chief  pripst?  and  scribes 
stinging  rebukes  for  their  hypocrisy,  but  he  was  right. 
Vv  hen  Jesus  sent  out  the  twelve  to  preach,  he  instructed 
them  to  not  fear  them  that  could  kill  the  body:  "Think 
not  that  I  am  come  to  send  peace  on  earth:  I  came  not 
to  send  peace,  but  a  sword"  (Matt,  Chap.  10).  And  Paul 
instructed  Timothy,  "Them  that  sin  rebuke  before  all  that 
others  may  fear.  Reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long 
suffering  and  doctrine."  This  was  according  to  the  law  as 
well  as  the  gospel.  So  Jesus  could  truly  say:  "They 
hated  me  without  a  cause"  (John  15:25). 

The  chief  priests  and  Pharisees  in  a  council  stated  the 
true  cause  for  the  arrest  of  Jesus.  "If  we — Pharisees  and 
chief  priests — let  him  thus  alone,  all  men  will  believe  on 
him."  Jesus  would  have  so  many  followers  that  he  would 
rebel  against  the  Roman  government,  they  would  have  no 
ecclesiastical  authority  and  their  place  and  nation  would 
be  taken  away  by  the  Romans.  This  came  to  pass  about 
forty  years  later,  because  of  the  rejection  of  Christ. 


38 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

WHO  WERE  THE  PARTICULAR  ENEMIES  OF 
JESUS? 

It  appears  that  the  Pharisees  were  the  ring-leaders, 
and  instigators;  and  were  first  to  incite  trouble  between 
Jesus  and  his  other  enemies;  the  chief  priests,  the  scribes, 
and  the  rulers  of  the  people. 

It  was  the  Pharisees  who  committed  the  unpardonable 
sin,  when  they  accused  him  of  casting  out  demons  through 
the  prince  of  demons.  They  accused  him  of  the  violation 
of  the  Sabbath  law,  because  he  healed  on  the  Sabbath  day. 
And  when  Jesus  healed  the  man  with  the  withered  hand, 
"Then  the  Pharisees  went  out,  and  held  a  council  against 
him,  how  they  might  destroy  him"  (Matt.  12:13-14). 

They  had  asked  him  if  it  was  "lawful  to  heal  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  that  they  might  accuse  him"  (Matt.  12:10). 

The  scribes  and  the  Pharisees  wanted  to  know  of  Jesus, 
why  his  disciples  transgressed  "the  traditions  of  the 
elders;  for  they  wash  not  their  hands  when  they  eat 
bread"  (Matt.  15:2  and  Mark  7:5). 

But  when  the  Pharisees  heard  that  he  had  put 
the  Sadducees  to  silence,  they  were  gathered  to- 
gether (Matt.  22:34). 

And  they  send  unto  him  certain  of  the  Pharisees 
and  Herodians  to  catch  him  in  his  words  (Mark 
12:13). 

And  the  Pharisees  went  forth,  and  straightway 
took  counsel  with  the  Herodians  against  him, 
how  they  might  destroy  him  (Mark  3:6). 

And  the  same  day  there  came  certain  of  the 
Pharisees,  saying  unto  him,  Get  thee  out,  and 
depart  hence;  for  Herod  will  kill  thee  (Luke 
13:31). 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  one  of  those  days,  as 

39 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

he  taught  the  people  in  the  temple,  and  preached 
the  gospel,  the  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  came 
upon  him,  with  the  elders  (Luke  20:1). 

The  Pharisees  were  sticklers  for  the  law  and  their  tradi- 
tions. And  when  Jesus  healed  the  man  with  the  withered 
hand,  on  the  Sabbath  day,  in  the  synagogue,  "The  scribes 
and  Pharisees  watched  him,  that  they  might  find  accusa- 
tion against  him"  (Luke  6:7). 

"But  he  knew  their  thoughts,  and  said  to  the  man  which 
had  the  withered  hand,  Rise  up.  Then  said  Jesus  unto 
them,  I  will  ask  you  one  thing:  Is  it  lawful  on  the  Sab- 
bath days  to  do  good,  or  to  do  evil?  to  save  life  or  to 
destroy  it?"  (Luke  6:9). 

"And  looking  round  about  upon  them  all,  he  said  unto 
the  man,  Stretch  forth  thy  hand.  And  he  did  so;  and  his 
hand  was  restored  as  whole  as  the  other. 

"And  they  were  filled  with  madness;  and  communed  one 
with  another  what  they  might  do  to  Jesus"  (Luke  6:10-11). 

Jesus  had  not  violated  the  law  in  doing  good  on  the 
Sabbath  day;  but  this  was  their  excuse  for  an  attempt  to 
bring  violent  action  against  him. 

"But  Jesus  answered  them,  My  Father  worketh  hitherto 
and  I  work"  (John  5:17). 

They  did  not  understand  the  great  mission  for  which 
Jesus  came  into  the  world;  and  they  were  jealous  of  his 
popularity,  and  his  wonderful  power  to  do  good. 

Why  Do  Tour  Disciples  Transgress  the  Traditions  of 
the  Elders? 

About  this  time  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  seemed  to 
have  much  groundless  controversy  with  Jesus,  about  the 
violation  of  the  law;  and  now  they  raise  the  question, 
"Why  do  thy  disciples  transgress  the  tradition  of  the 
elders?  for  they  wash  not  their  hands  when  they  eat 
bread."  The  traditions  of  the  elders  were  no  part  of  the 
written  law  of  Moses,  but  were  the  oral  delivery  of  pre- 
40 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

cepts  and  customs,  handed  down  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration. 

Jesus  does  not  at  once  answer  their  question,  but  asks 
another,  "Why  do  ye  also  transgress  the  commandment 
of  God  by  your  tradition?"  Many  of  their  traditions  were 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  law  of  God.  A  striking  example 
is  given  by  our  Saviour  in  reply  to  this  question;  in  which 
he  shows  how  vain  are  the  efforts  of  those  who  would 
teach  for  doctrine  the  commandments  of  men:  for,  "these 
are  what  defile  a  man:  but  to  eat  with  unwashen  hands 
.defileth  not  a  man"  (Matt.  15:20). 

There  were,  however,  a  variety  of  traditions,  or  doc- 
trines, which  persons  divinely  inspired  taught  by  word  of 
mouth  (II  Thess.  2:15  and  3:6).  The  only  way  by  which 
we  can  know  satisfactorily,  that  any  tradition  is  of  divine 
authority,  is  by  its  having  a  place  in  those  writings  which 
are  generally  acknowledged  to  be  the  genuine  productions 
of  inspired  men.  All  traditions  which  have  not  such 
authority  are  without  value,  and  tend  greatly  to  distract 
and  mislead  the  minds  of  men. 

Paul  teaches  us  this  lesson  when  he  says,  "Beware  lesi 
any  man  spoil  you  through  philosophy,  and  vain  deceit, 
after  the  tradition  of  men,  and  not  after  Christ"  (Col.  2:8). 

In  the  discussion  of  the  events  of  the  last  passover  week, 
let  us  give  heed  to  Jesus  and  Paul,  that  no  man  may  de- 
ceive us  with  traditions — the  things  not  written  on  the 
sacred  page.  For,  with  the  sword  of  the  spirit,  the  word 
of  God,  every  barrier  which  stands  in  opposition  to  the 
truth,  will  be  broken  down  and  the  theories  and  specula- 
tions of  men  must  give  way  to  the  plain  and  simple  facts 
of  the  gospel. 

Jesus  Puts  the  Sadducees  to  Silence. 
Matt.  22:34. 

The  Sadducees,  who  did  not  believe  in  a  future  life,  came 
to  Jesus  and  questioned  him  as  touching  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead,  at  which  time  he  gave  them  a  lesson  that  put 

41 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

them  to  silence.  "And  when  the  Pharisees  heard  it,  they 
were  gathered  together." 

Whenever  Jesus  succeeded  in  breaking  the  ranks  of  his 
enemies,  the  Pharisees  were  ever  ready  to  hold  a  council 
of  war,  and  prepare  to  renew  the  conflict.  Their  tongues 
were  an  unruly  evil,  full  of  deadly  poison  against  him 
who  went  about  doing  good.  However,  it  soon  came  their 
time  to  be  silenced.  Jesus  asked  them  a  question  con- 
cerning himself:  "What  think  ye  of  Christ?  Whose  son 
is  he?  They  say  unto  him,  The  Son  of  David.  If  David 
then  calleth  him  Lord,  how  is  he  his  Son?  And  no  man 
was  able  to  answer  him  a  word;  neither  durst  any  man 
from  that  day  forth,  ask  him  any  more  questions,"  but 
they  continued  to  plot  against  his  life. 

"And  the  Pharisees  went  forth,  and  straightway  took 
counsel  with  the  Herodians  against  him,  how  they  might 
destroy  him"  (Mark  3:6). 

The  Herodians  were  a  Jewish  political  party,  favorable 
to  the  Roman  emperor,  and  Herod,  his  deputy.  After  con- 
sulting together,  it  was  decided  to  send  a  delegation  of  this 
political  clique  to  Jesus  that  they  might  entangle  him  in 
his  talk.  And  after  a  few  introductory  words  of  flattery, 
they  asked  him:  "Is  it  lawful  to  give  tribute  to  Caesar, 
or  not?"  But  he  knew  their  hypocrisy,  and  said  unto 
them:  "Render  unto  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's, 
and  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's."  And  they  mar- 
velled at  him;  they  had  failed  to  entrap  him  in  his  words. 

And  the  same  day  the  Pharisees  said  unto  him;  "Get 
thee  out,  and  depart  hence;  for  Herod  will  kill  thee" 
(Luke  13:31). 

No  doubt  but  these  Pharisees  and  Herodians  were 
angered  at  their  failure  to  have  Jesus  say  something  in 
opposition  to  Herod  or  the  Roman  emperor,  that  they 
might  accuse  him  unto  them. 

"Herod  will  kill  thee.*  "And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye 
and  tell  that  fox,  Behold,  I  cast  out  devils,  and  do  cures 

42 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

today,  and  tomorrow,  and  the  third  day  I  shall  be  per- 
fected1' (Luke  13:32). 

Jesus  understood  their  threat;  that  it  was  a  scheme  to 
.get  him  away  from  Jerusalem;  and  his  reply  shows  that 
he  fully  understood  the  cunning  device  of  Herod.  Tell 
Herod  that  I  will  continue  in  my  good  work  today,  and  to- 
morrow, and  "the  third  day  I  will  be  perfected."  This  re- 
fers to  his  death  on  the  cross,  and  his  resurrection.  "The 
Captain  of  their  salvation  was  made  perfect  through  suf- 
ferings" (Heb.  2:10). 

A,  P.  Stout,  who  would  exonerate  the  Pharisees  from 
the  death  of  Jesus,  says,  in  his  book  on  the  trials  and 
crucifixion  of  Christ,  page  20,  that,  "there  is  no  evidence 
that  the  Pharisees  persecuted  Jesus  after  that  time";  that 
is,  after  Jesus  delivered  the  condemnation  sermon  against 
the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  as  recorded  in  Matt.  23rd  chap- 
ter. 

According  to  the  scriptures,  the  claim  of  exoneration 
made  by  Mr.  Stout  would  seem  untenable,  and  will  not 
meet  with  the  support  of  the  careful  reader. 

The  Pharisees  were  among  the  first  and  the  last  to  accuse 
Jesus,  and  to  speak  slanderous  words  against  his  char- 
acter. They  were  the  only  ones  who  took  counsel  against 
him,  with  every  sect  and  party,  ecclesiastical,  political  or 
otherwise,  to  put  him  to  death.  And  they  never  ceased 
their  persecution  until  Jesus  was  betrayed  and  arrested. 
And  it  was  from  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees,  that  Judas 
received  a  band  of  men  and  officers  to  make  the  arrest 
(John  18:3).  And  after  he  was  dead  and  buried,  they  re- 
membered, "that  that  deceiver  said:  After  three  days  I 
will  rise  again;  therefore,  they  went  to  Pilate  who  gave 
them  a  guard  for  the  tomb.  They  went  and  made  the 
sepulchre  sure,  sealing  the  stone,  and  setting  the  watch" 
(Matt  27:66). 

How  v_ain  are  the  efforts  of  men  who  fight  against  God. 


43 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
WAS  JESUS  ARRESTED  ON  A  FEAST  DAY? 

Matt.  26:1-5,  14-16. 

1.  And  it  came  to  pass  when  Jesus  had  finish- 
ed all  these  sayings,  he  said  unto  his  disciples, 

2.  Ye  know  that  after  two  days  is  the  Pass- 
over,  and   the   Son   of   man   is   betrayed   to   be 
crucified. 

3.  Then  assembled  together  the  chief  priests 
and  the  scribes,  and  the  elders  of  the  people,  unto 
the   palace   of  the  high   priest,   who   was   called 
Caiaphas. 

4.  And  consulted  that  they  might  take  Jesus: 
by  subtility  and  kill  him. 

5.  But  they  said,  Not  on  the  feast  day,  lest 
there  be  an  uproar  among  the  people. 

14.  Then    one    of    the    twelve,    called    Judas 
Iscariot,  went  unto  the  chief  priests, 

15.  And  said,  What  will  ye  give  me  and  I  will 
deliver  him  unto  you  ?    And  they  covenanted  with 
him  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver. 

16.  And  from  that  time  he  sought  opportunity 
to  betray  him. 

See  Mark  14:1,  2,  10,  11. 

Now  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  drew  nigh, 
which  is  called  the  Passover  (Luke  22:1). 

And  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  sought  how 
they  might  kill  him;  for  they  feared  the  people 
(Luke  22:2). 

Then  entered  Satan  into  Judas  surnamed  Is- 
cariot, being  of  the  number  of  the  twelve  (Luke 
22:3). 

And  he  went  his  way,  and  communed  with  the 
chief  priests  and  captains,  how  he  might  betray 
him  unto  them  (Luke  22:4). 

44 


'THE    MASTER    KEY. 

And  they  were  glad  and  covenanted  to  give  him 
money  (Luke  22:5). 

And  he  promised,  and  sought  opportunity  to  be- 
tray him  unto  them  in  the  absence  of  the  multi- 
tude (Luke  22:6). 

Then  came  the  day  of  unleavened  bread  when 
the  Passover  must  be  killed  (Luke  22:7). 

"Ye  know  that  after  two  days  is  the  Passover." 

Jesus  is  looking  forward  to  the  exact  time  when  he 
•would  sit  down  with  the  twelve  apostles  and  eat  the  Pass- 
over. And  he  reminds  his  disciples,  that  "Ye  know  that 
..after  two  days — Wednesday  and  Thursday,  Nisan  the  13th 
.and  14, — is  the  Passover."  Thursday  ended  at  sunset,  at 
which  time  the  15th  night  of  the  month  began,  and  without 
•controversy,  this  was  the  legal  time;  and  according  to 
.Matthew,  Mark  and  Luke,  Jesus  ate  the  Passover  at  this 
time;  and  there  is  not  a  scintilla  of  evidence  to  show 
that  he  ate  it  at  any  other  time,  as  some  assume.  And  in 
<the  absence  of  direct  testimony  to  the  contrary,  the  re- 
•quirements  of  the  law  must  be  accepted  as  final. 

"Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Woe  unto  the  foolish  prophets, 
that  follow  their  own  spirit,  and  have  seen  nothing"  (Ezek. 
13:3). 

"Then  assembled  together  the  chief  priests  and  the 
bcribes"  (Matt).  "Now  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread 
drew  nigh"  (Luke). 

This  assembly  of  the  chief  priests,  and  the  scribes,  and 
the  elders  of  the  people,  was  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
some  plan  by  which  they  might  take  Jesus  by  craft,  and 
put  him  to  death,  for  they  feared  the  people. 

It  seems  that  this  council  was  unable  to  fix  upon  any 
•definite  plan  for  the  arrest  of  Jesus  in  the  absence  of  the 
multitude,  until  Judas  went  his  way  and  communed  with 
them,  how  he  might  betray  him  unto  them.  And  they  were 
.glad,  and  covenanted  with  him  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver. 

45 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"And  he  promised,  and  sought  opportunity  to  betray  him> 
unto  them,  in  the  absence  of  the  multitude"  (Luke  22:6). 

The  arrangement  with  Judas,  for  the  betrayal,  was  made 
before  the  Passover,  and  Jesus  knew  it,  and  said,  the  Son 
of  man  is  betrayed  to  be  crucified.  And  there  was  a  definite 
understanding,  that  no  attempt  was  to  be  made  to  arrest 
him  on  the  feast  day, — Friday.  Matthew  and  Mark  both 
say,  "Not  on  the  feast  day  lest  there  be  an  uproar  of  the 
people."  And  this  testimony  was  written  twenty  years 
or  more  after  the  last  Passover,  and  if  it  was  not  true, 
it  would  have  appeared  otherwise  on  the  record. 

So  Friday,  Nisan  the  15th,  the  annual  Sabbath,  the  first 
day  of  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread,  is  past,  and  Jesus 
is  not  yet  arrested:  however,  the  world  still  clings  to  the 
old  tradition,  that  on  this  day  he  was  crucified.  And,  as 
there  is  no  evidence  in  support  of  this  theory,  "Good  Fri- 
day" must  go,  as  it  has  no  such  place  among  the  events  of 
the  last  Passover  week. 

Neither  can  it  be  assumed  that  Jesus  and  his  apostles 
left  that  upper  room  before  the  weekly  Sabbath  ended. 
For  the  law  required  that  they  remain  there.  And  accord- 
ing to  the  scriptures  they  did  not  leave  until  Saturday 
night;  the  first  night  of  the  week:  after  the  institution  of 
the  Lord's  Supper. 

"They  feared  the  people."  Why?  Because  the  great 
multitude  of  the  people  were  the  friends  of  Jesus.  And 
"among  the  chief  rulers  also,  many  believed  on  him"  (John 
12:42). 

During  Passover  week  there  were  many  Jews  in  Jerusa- 
lem, out  of  every  nation  under  heaven:  Parthians,  and 
Medes,  and  Elamites,  and  the  dwellers  in  Mesopotamia. 
These  were  from  the  East;  and  it  was  possible,  that  among 
them  were  some  of  the  wise  men,  Jews,  who  visited  Jesus 
at  Nazareth,  when  he  was  a  "young  child";  to  which  place 
his  parents  had  taken  him  from  the  temple  in  Jerusalem 
when  he  was  forty  days  old  (Luke  2:39). 

Josephus  says  "that  in  A.  D.  65  there  were  three  million 

46 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Jews  in  attendance  at  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread."  And 
to  have  attempted  the  arrest  of  Jesus  on  Thursday  night 
would  have  caused  a  tumult;  for,  on  that  night,  the  entire 
Jewish  multitude  were  celebrating  the  Passover,  cooking 
and  eating  the  sacrificial  lamb,  and  would  not  retire  until 
the  next  morning.  "And  thou  shalt  roast  and  eat  it  in 
the  place  which  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  choose;  and  thou 
shalt  turn  in  the  morning  and  go  to  thy  tents"  (Deut.  16:7). 

The  gospel  writers  give  us  an  unbroken  chain  of  testi- 
mony, from  two  days  before  the  Passover,  to  the  hour 
when  Jesus  sat  down  with  his  disciples  on  Thursday  night, 
Nisan  the  15th,  and  did  eat  the  Passover.  And  they  also 
declare  that  he  was  not  arrested  at  this  time,  which  is 
sufficient  evidence  to  justify  such  conclusion. 

Notwithstanding  this  plain  statement  of  scripture,  we 
find  the  Rev.  John  Monro  Gibson,  M.  A.,  D.  D.,  in  his  book 
entitled  "The  Gospel  of  Matthew,"  page  396,  regarding  the 
night  of  the  betrayal — which  he  claims  was  Thursday  night 
— saying:  "The  city  is  asleep,  as  Jesus  leads  the  way 
along  the  silent  streets,  down  the  slope  of  Moriah,  and 
across  the  Kedron,  to  the  familiar  place  of  resort  on  the 
mount  of  Olives."  This  would  apply  to  Saturday  night, 
at  which  time  Judas  betrayed  his  master  in  the  absence 
of  the  multitude. 

However,  there  are  other  lawful  reasons  that  they  did 
not,  nor  would  not,  arrest  Jesus  on  Thursday  night.  Porr 
at  sunset  Thursday,  the  first  annual  Sabbath  of  Passover 
week  began,  and  ended  at  sunset,  Friday  evening,  at  which 
time,  the  weekly  Sabbath,  Saturday,  began,  and  would  not 
end  till  sunset  Saturday  evening;  hence,  there  was  a  dou- 
ble Sabbath  of  forty-eight  hours.  And  during  this  time, 
Jesus  with  the  twelve  apostles  remained  in  that  upper 
room,  where  they  observed  the  law  of  the  Sabbath,  not 
going  out  until  the  weekly  Sabbath  was  past. 

It  is  well  known,  that  the  Jews  would  not,  under  any 
circumstances,  violate  the  law.  Josephus  says  that  the 

47 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Jews  believed  the  laws  of  Moses,  "to  be  the  gift  of  God, 
insomuch  that  the  Hebrews  did  not  transgress  any  of  those 
laws,  either  as  tempted  in  times  of  peace,  by  luxury,  or  in 
times  of  war,  by  distress  of  affairs." 

It  was  in  this  upper  room  that  Jesus  washed  his  dis- 
ciples' feet,  and  on  Saturday  night  instituted  the  Lord's 
Supper.  Here,  also,  he  spoke  all  that  is  contained  in  the 
13th,  14th,  15th  and  16th  chapters  of  John,  in  which  he 
teaches  his  disciples,  and  speaks  words  of  comfort  to  them. 
And  in  this  place  he  utters  that  remarkable  prayer,  record- 
ed in  the  17th  chapter  of  John. 

"When  Jesus  had  spoken  these  words,  he  went  forth 
with  his  disciples  over  the  brook  Kidron,  where  was  a 
garden,  into  which  he  entered,  and  his  disciples"  (John 
18:1). 

And,  to  the  foregoing  definite  facts  of  the  gospel,  all 
alike  stand  committed. 

Theorize  as  we  may,  God's  word  still  stands  unchanged, 
and  unchangeable. 


48 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

DID  JUDAS  LEAVE  THE  UPPER  ROOM  BE- 
FORE JESUS  AND  HIS  DISCIPLES  LEFT 
FOR  THE  GARDEN  OF  GETHSEMANE? 

I  speak  not  of  you  all;  I  know  whom  I  have 
chosen;  but  that  the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled. 
He  that  eateth  bread  with  me,  has  lifted  up  his 
heel  against  me  (John  13:18). 

Now  I  tell  you  before  it  come,  that,  when  it  is 
come  to  pass,  ye  may  believe  that  I  am  he  (13 :19) . 

Then  the  disciples  looked  one  on  another,  doubt- 
ing of  whom  he  spake  (13:22). 

He  then,  lying  on  Jesus'  breast,  saith  unto  him, 
Lord,  who  is  it?  (13:25). 

Jesus  answered,  He  it  is  to  wrhom  I  shall  give 
a  sop,  when  I  have  dipped  it.  And  when  he  had 
dipped  the  sop  he  gave  it  to  Judas  Iscariot,  the 
son  of  Simon  (13:26). 

And  after  the  sop  Satan  entered  into  him. 
Then  said  Jesus  unto  him,  That  thou  doest  do 
quickly  (13:27). 

Now  no  man  at  the  table  knew  for  what  intent 
he  spake  this  unto  him  (13:28). 

For  some  thought,  because  Judas  had  the  bag, 
that  Jesus  had  said  unto  him,  Buy  what  things 
we  have  need  of  for  the  feast;  or  that  he  should 
give  something  to  the  poor  (13:29). 

He  then  having  received  the  sop,  went  im- 
mediately out:  and  it  was  night  (13:30). 

Therefore,  when  he  was  gone  out,  Jesus  said, 
Now  is  the  Son  of  man  glorified,  and  God  is  glori- 
fied in  him  (13:31). 

"Ye  are  clean,  but  not  all.     For  he  knew  who  should 

49 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

betray  him;  therefore  said  he,  Ye  are  not  all  clean"  (John 
13:10-11). 

"I  speak  not  of  you  all"  (13:18).  Judas  was  yet  present, 
when  Jesus  said,  "Ye  are  all  clean;"  hence,  the  exception, 
"but  not  all:"  all,  but  the  traitor,  Judas. 

It  should  be  noticed  that  while  Judas  was  present,  and 
the  Master  had  something  to  say  that  did  not  apply  to  him, 
he  stated  an  exception. 

"I  know  whom  I  have  chosen"  (13:18).  "Have  I  not 
chosen  you  twelve,  and  one  of  you  is  a  devil?"  (John  6:70). 
Jesus  knew  who  would  betray  him,  and  repeatedly  made 
it  known  to  the  twelve,  that  one  of  them  should  betray 
him. 

"He  that  eateth  bread  with  me,  hath  lifted  "up  his  heel 
against  me."  Judas  was  eating  bread  with  the  Master, 
after  he  had  arranged  to  betray  him. 

"Now  I  tell  you  before  it  come  to  pass"  (John  13:19). 
This  was  spoken  for  the  benefit  of  the  eleven  apostles, 
only,  for  the  purpose  of  convincing  them  that  he  could 
foretell  who  would  betray  him;  and  that  they  might  be- 
lieve he  was  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God. 

The  eleven  disciples  did  not  understand  the  accusation, 
"He  that  eateth  bread  with  me,  hath  lifted  "p  his  heel 
against  me,"  and  it  seems  that  they  had  no  suspicion  that 
Judas  was  the  one  accused;  therefore,  Peter  beckoned  to 
the  disciple  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom,  that  he  rhould  ask 
him,  who  it  should  be,  of  whom  he  spake.  He  saith  unto 
him,  Lord,  who  is  it? 

"Jesus  answered,  He  it  is  to  whom  I  shall  give  a  sop, 
when  I  have  dipped  it.  And  when  he  had  dipped  the  sop, 
he  gave  it  to  Judas  Iscariot,  the  son  of  Simon"  (John 
13:26). 

B.  W.  Johnson,  commenting  on  this  question,  Matt.  2fr.i>3, 
says,  "From  John  13:23-26,  we  learn  that  these  words  were 
spoken  to  the  disciple  that  leaned  on  the  Saviour's  rosom, 
and  were  unheard  by  Judas  and  the  rest." 

Both  by  words  and  action,  Jesus  answered  their  ques- 

50 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

tion,  "Who  is  it  Lord?"  And  we  believe  from,  the  plain 
narration  of  this  event,  and  the  anxiety  of  the  eleven  apos- 
tles, to  know  who  it  was,  that  they  all  heard  the  answer, 
and  saw  Jesus  give  the  sop  to  Judas.  In  the  21st  verse 
of  the  thirteenth  chapter,  "Jesus  testified,  and  said,  Verily, 
verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  one  of  you  shall  betray  me.'* 
This  direct  accusation  brought  forth  the  question,  "Who 
is  it  Lord?"  and  the  Savior  replied,  both  by  word  and  deed 
in  unequivocable  terms;  therefore,  we  do  not  agree  with 
this  able  commentator,  that  the  answer  to  this  question 
was  "unheard  by  Judas  and  the  rest." 

We  should  understand  that  from  the  23rd  to  the  26th 
verse,  both  inclusive,  the  conversation  was  between  Jesus 
and  the  twelve;  and  the  following,  between  Jesus  and  his 
betrayer,  was  not  sufficiently  heard  to  be  understood  by 
any  of  the  eleven  then  present.  John  explains, 

"And  after  the  sop,  Satan  entered  into  him.  Then  said 
Jesus  unto  him  (Judas),  That  thou  doest,  do  quickly. 

"Now  no  man  at  the  table  knew  for  what  intent  he  spake 
this  unto  him  (Judas). 

"For  some  of  them  thought,  because  Judas  had  the  bag, 
that  Jesus  had  said  unto  him,  Buy  those  things  that  we 
have  need  of  for  the  feast;  or,  that  he  should  give  some- 
thing to  the  poor"  (13:29).  According  to  the  scripture, 
John  explains  all  the  conversation  that  was  not  under- 
stood while  at  the  table,  and  no  additional  words  are  re- 
quired. 

"He  then  having  received  the  sop,  went  immediately  out; 
and  it  was  night"  (13:30). 

This  scripture  states  a  plain  simple  fact;  that  Judas 
left  the  upper  room  before  Jesus  left  with  the  eleven  dis- 
ciples for  Gethsemane.  Some  say  that,  "He  (Judas)  fol- 
lowed to  the  very  gates  of  Gethsemane,  and  never  left  to 
bring  the  soldiers  till  Peter  and  James  and  John  could 
no  longer  keep  watch  of  him." 

It  is  not  stated  in  the  gospels  that  after  Judas  went  out 
from  that  upper  room,  he  again  saw  the  Master,  until  he 

51 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

came  to  the  garden  with  a  band  of  men  and  officers  to 
arrest  him.  But  the  scriptures  state,  that  Judas  knew 
the  place;  for  Jesus  ofttimes  resorted  thither  with  his 
disciples;  hence,  it  was  not  necessary  to  follow,  that  he 
might  know  where  to  find  him. 

We  cannot  believe  without  evidence;  therefore,  we  con- 
clude that  what  has  been  said,  by  some,  concerning  Judas, 
that  "he  never  left  to  bring  the  soldiers  till  Peter  and 
James  and  John  were  soundly  sleeping,"  is  idle  conjecture. 
For,  when  Judas  was  gone  out,  Jesus  spake  words  of  com- 
fort to  the  eleven  apostles  that  he  would  not  have  said  to 
liis  betrayer.  "Let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled;  ye  be- 
lieve in  God,  believe  also  in  me"  (John  14:1). 

"I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you," — eleven.  Judas  had 
already  made  preparation,  "that  he  might  go  to  his  own 
place"  (Acts  1:25).  "I  will  come  again,  and  receive  you 
unto  myself;  that  where  I  am  ye  may  be  also"  (John 
14:3).  These  precious  promises  to  his  disciples,  were  not 
made  when  Judas  was  present.  John  says,  he  "went  im- 
mediately out;  and  it  was  night."  Therefore,  we  believe 
that  Judas  left  that  upper  room  before  Jesus  and  his  dis- 
ciples left  for  Gethsemane.  "And  when  they  had  sung  a 
hymn,  they  went  out  into  the  mount  of  Olives." 


52 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
WHEN  WAS  JESUS  ARRESTED? 

He  having  received  the  sop,  went  immediately 
out,  and  it  was  night  (John  13:30). 

Judas  then,  having  received  a  band  of  men  and 
officers,  from  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees, 
cometh  thither  with  lanterns  and  torches  and 
weapons  (John  18:3). 

It  was  on  Saturday  night,  the  first  night  of  the  week,  the 
seventeenth  night  of  the  (moon)  month;  and  while  they 
were  at  the  supper  table,  that  Jesus  answered  the  ques- 
tion, as  to  who  should  betray  him.  And  he  further  indi- 
cated the  traitor,  by  handing  a  sop  to  him,  after  he  had 
dipped  it.  And  as  soon  as  he  received  the  sop,  he  went 
immediately  out,  and  it  was  night. 

They  were  eating  the  usual  evening  meal  with  unleav- 
ened bread  and  the  bitter  herbs,  which  were  always  on 
the  table  during  the  Passover  week.  The  first  feast  of 
unleavened  bread  which  is  called  the  Passover,  had  been 
eaten  on  the  previous  Thursday  night. 

They  had  said,  "Not  on  the  feast  day."  The  revised  ver- 
sion is  better:  "Not  during  the  feast";  which  began  Thurs- 
day evening  at  sunset,  and  continued  seven  days,  ending 
the  following  Thursday  at  sunset,  Nisan  the  twenty-first. 
To  not  arrest  Jesus  during  the  feast,  was  the  decision  of 
an  assembly  of  the  chief  priests,  the  scribes,  and  the  elders 
of  the  people.  But  while  his  enemies  were  gathered  to- 
gether, Judas  went  his  way  and  communed  with  them  how 
he  might  betray  him  unto  them  in  the  absence  of  the  mul- 
titude (Luke). 

The  first  great  day  of  the  feast,  Friday,  an  annual  Sab- 
bath, and  Saturday,  the  weekly  Sabbath,  being  past,  there 
was  no  legal  restraint  as  to  the  time  when  the  enemies  of 

53 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Jesus  could  proceed  to  gratify  their  desire  to  put  him 
to  death. 

The  time  was  opportune.  The  incidents  of  the  upper 
room  were  closed.  Jesus  and  his  disciples  had  snng  to- 
gether their  last  hymn,  and  with  them  he  had  retired  to 
the  garden  of  Gethsemane;  where  he  withdrew  from  them 
about  a  stone's  cast  and  in  great  agony  prayed  to  his 
Father,  knowing  "that  the  things  concerning  him  have  an 
end"  (Luke  22:37). 

And  his  disciples  whom  he  asked  to  watch  and  pray, 
that  they  enter  not  into  temptation,  could  not  keep  awake, 
"for  their  eyes  were  heavy."  "And  when  he  rose  up  from 
prayer,  and  was  come  to  his  disciples,  he  found  them 
sleeping,  for  sorrow"  (Luke  22:45).  "The  spirit  indeed 
is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak,"  said  Jesus  to  Peter  (Matt. 
26:40-41). 

Furthermore,  on  this  Saturday  night  when  Judas  went 
out,  the  multitude,  the  friends  of  Jesus,  were  sleeping  as 
soundly  as  the  eleven  disciples  out  in  the  garden.  Besides, 
there  was  another  condition  favorable  to  his  arrest  at  this 
time;  it  was  dark.  John  18:3  says,  "Judas  then,  having 
received  a  band  of  men,  and  officers  from  the  chief  priests 
and  Pharisees,  cometh  thither  with  lanterns  and  torches 
and  weapons." 

As  to  the  time  of  the  arrest,  the  old  tradition  is,  that 
the  betrayal  was  on  Thursday  night;  and  that  "it  was  a 
night  lighted  by  the  full  moon."  If  so,  why  carry  arti- 
ficial light?  If  he  had  been  arrested,  as  some  assume, 
on  Thursday  night,  there  would  have  been  early  moon- 
light; for  the  moon  is  always  full  on  the  fourteenth  night 
of  the  (moon)  lunar  month:  but  it  was  Saturday  night; 
the  seventeenth  night  of  the  moon.  Therefore,  the  moon 
would  not  rise  till  after  ten  o'clock;  and  would  not  show 
her  light,  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane,  over  Mt.  Olivet, 
until  near  midnight.  Thus,  the  heavenly  planet  bears  wit- 
ness ;  that  it  was  as  late  as  Saturday  night  when  Jesus  was 
arrested,  and  bound,  and  led  away,  to  be  tried,  condemned, 
and  crucified  by  his  enemies. 

54 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

The  Arrest  in  Gethsemane. 

And  they  laid  their  hands  on  him  and  took  him 
(Mark  14:46). 

When  they  which  were  about  him  saw  what 
would  follow,  they  said  unto  him,  Lord,  shall  we 
smite  with  the  sword?  (Luke  22:49). 

Then  Simon  Peter  having  a  sword  drew  it,  and 
smote  the  high  priest's  servant,  and  cut  off  his 
right  ear.  The  servant's  name  was  Malchus 
(John  18:10). 

And  he  touched  his  ear,  and  healed  him  (Luke 
22:51). 

Then  said  Jesus  unto  Peter,  Put  up  thy  sword 
into  the  sheath;  the  cup  which  my  Father  has 
given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it?  (John  18:11). 

Thinkest  thou  that  I  cannot  now  pray  to  my 
Father,  and  He  shall  presently  give  me  more 
than  twelve  legions  of  angels?  (Matt.  26:53). 

But  how  then  shall  the  scriptures  be  fulfilled, 
that  thus  it  must  be?  (Matt.  26:54). 

But  this  was  all  done,  that  the  scriptures  of  the 
prophets  might  be  fulfilled  (Matt.  26:56). 


THE  CUP. 

What  was  the  cup  our  Lord  prayed  might  pass,  just  be- 
fore his  crucifixion?  To  this  question,  the  reply  of  a  com- 
mentator of  recognized  ability  is  submitted: 

"Bible  students  are  not  agreed  as  to  what  cup  Jesus 
referred  to.  The  most  natural  conclusion  would  be  that 
it  was  the  cross  in  prospect. 

"A  supposition  more  in  keeping  with  his  heroic  mold 
would  be  that  it  was  the  loneliness  of  soul  and  the  pres- 
sure of  the  world's  woe  as  he  began  to  tread  the  winepress 
alone. 

"A  view  we  like  is  that  he  felt  himself  about  to  die  in 

55 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

the  garden  and  desired  to  escape  such  an  end  so  as  to  com- 
plete his  work  on  the  cross." 

We  note  that,  to  the  question,  "What  was  the  cup?"  three 
different  answers  are  given.  First,  "The  most  natural 
conclusion";  second,  "A  supposition";  third,  "A  view  we 
like." 

If  one's  knowledge  of  the  scripture  is  as  indefinite  and 
diverse  as  the  answers  given  to  this  question,  it  should 
disqualify  us  as  teachers  of  the  Word  of  God.  But,  in 
support  of  the  theories  of  this  commentator,  no  scripture 
has  been  quoted.  If  great  authorities  should  agree  on  the 
simple  facts  of  the  scriptures,  verily  the  stretch  of  their 
imaginations  would  become  a  worthless  commodity. 

Jesus  Foretells  His  Death. 

Matt.  20:18,  19. 

"Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem;  and  the  Son 
of  Man  shall  be  betrayed  unto  the  chief  priests 
and  unto  the  scribes,  and  they  shall  condemn  him 
to  death, 

"And  shall  deliver  him  to  the  gentiles  to  mock, 
and  to  scourge,  and  to  crucify." 

The  sorrow  and  agony  of  our  Savior  in  the  garden  was 
caused  by  the  complete  knowledge  of  the  cup  which  his 
Father  had  given  him  to  drink,  and  was  yet  before  him; 
soon  to  be  accomplished.  The  prayer  of  our  Master  did 
not  change  the  determinate  counsel  and  foreknowledge  of 
God.  And  he  was  offered  a  willing  sacrifice  for  the  sins 
of  the  world. 

If  success  could  have  crowned  the  effort  of  Peter  in  the 
defense  of  his  Master,  it  would  have  prevented  him  from 
drinking  the  cup  which  was  still  before  him.  For  Jesus 
said  unto  Peter,  "Put  up  thy  sword  into  the  sheath:  the 
cup  which  my  Father  has  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it?" 
(John  18:11). 

56 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Jesus  said:  "The  Son  of  Man  goeth  as  it  is  written 
of  him"  (Isa.  53rd  chapter)  "but  woe  unto  that  man  by 
whom  the  Son  of  Man  is  betrayed"  (Matt.  26:24). 

The  betrayal  was  the  first  act  in  the  tragedy  of  suffer- 
ing inflicted  upon  Jesus  by  his  enemies.  From  the  time 
Peter  said  unto  him:  "Thou  art  the  Christ,"  he  began  to 
teach  his  disciples  how  he  must  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  and 
suffer  many  things  of  the  elders  and  chief  priests  and 
scribes,  and  be  killed. 

"But  all  this  was  done  that  the  scriptures  of  the  prophets 
might  be  fulfilled"  (Matt.  26:56). 

"And  he  said  unto  them,  O  foolish  men,  and  slow  of 
heart  to  believe  all  that  the  prophets  have  spoken"  (Luke 
24:25). 

The  writer  believes  that  whatever  Jesus  and  the  prophets 
foretold  is  unchangeable  and  true.  And  that  according 
to  the  scriptures,  the  cup  was  not  a  supposition,  or  an  un- 
certain view,  but  a  reality,  which  included  the  arrest,  the 
trials,  the  mocking,  the  scourging  and  his  cruel  death  upon 
the  cross.  And  this  seems  to  be  the  most  natural  conclu- 
sion of  the  unlearned  as  well  as  the  learned. 

The  arrest  of  Jesus  was  made  with  slight  opposition. 
Before  leaving  the  upper  room  in  the  city,  the  Master  said 
unto  Simon,  "Simon,  behold,  Satan  hath  desired  to  have 
you,  that  he  might  sift  you  as  wheat"  (Luke  22:31). 
"Lord,  I  am  ready  to  go  with  thee,  both  into  prison,  and  to 
death."  Peter  was  making  fearless  statements,  but  he 
did  not  know  the  weakness  of  the  flesh,  and  Jesus  warning 
him,  said,  "That  this  night,  before  the  cock  crow,  thou 
shalt  deny  me  thrice"  (Matt.  26:34). 

"Peter  said  unto  him,  Though  I  should  die  with  thee, 
yet  will  I  not  deny  thee.  Likewise  also  said  all  the  dis- 
ciples" (Matt.  26:35).  Then  said  he  unto  them,  "He  that 
hath  no  sword,  let  him  sell  his  garment  and  buy  one.  For 
I  say  unto  you,  that  this  which  is  written  must  be  fulfilled 
in  me:  And  he  was  reckoned  with  transgressors." 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Jesus,  though  innocent  of  any  wrong,  knew  that  his 
enemies  reckoned  him  as  a  transgressor,  and  knowing  the 
things  that  were  coming  upon  him,  he  advised  his  dis- 
ciples to  arm  themselves  with  swords.  His  enemies  were 
coming  to  take  him  by  force,  and  the  defense  that  would 
be  made  with  the  sword  would  give  him  an  opportunity 
to  show  his  divine  power,  which  would  strengthen  the  faith 
of  his  disciples,  and  those  who  would  in  after  time  believe 
on  him. 

"And  when  they  had  laid  hold  of  him."  They  said  unto 
him,  Lord,  shall  we  smite  with  the  sword?  and  without 
waiting  for  a  reply,  "Simon  Peter  having  a  sword,  drew  it, 
and  smote  the  high  priest's  servant,  and  cut  off  his  right 
ear.  The  servant's  name  was  Malchus"  (John  18:10). 

"And  Jesus  answered  and  said:  Suffer  ye  thus  far; 
And  he  touched  his  ear  and  healed  it"  (Luke  22:51).  And 
the  purpose  of  the  defense,  which  he  did  not  need,  is 
shown. 

"And  many  other  signs  truly  did  Jesus  in  the  presence 
of  his  disciples,  which  are  not  written  in  this  book  (John's 
Gospel).  But  these  are  written  that  ye  may  believe,  that 
Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God"  (John  20:31). 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  X. 
TRIALS  OF  CHRIST— JESUS  BEFORE  ANNAS. 

Then  the  band,  and  the  captain,  and  officers  of 
the  Jews,  took  Jesus,  and  bound  him  (John 
18:12). 

And  led  him  away  to  Annas  first:  for  he  was 
father-in-law  to  Caiaphas,  which  was  high  priest 
that  same  year  (John  18:13). 

The  high  priest  then  asked  Jesus  of  his  dis- 
ciples, and  of  his  doctrine  (John  18:19). 

Why  asketh  thou  me?  Ask  them  which  heard 
me,  what  I  said  unto  them:  behold  they  know 
what  I  said  (John  18:21). 

And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  one  of  the  of- 
ficers which  stood  by  struck  Jesus  with  the  palm 
of  his  hand,  saying,  Answerest  thou  the  high 
priest  so?  (John  18:22). 

Jesus  answered  him,  If  I  have  spoken  evil,  bear 
witness  of  the  evil ;  but  if  well,  why  smitest  thou 
me?  (John  18:23). 

Then  Jesus  was  bound  and  led  away  to  Annas  first. 
John  only  gives  an  account  of  the  trial,  or  the  attempt  to 
examine  Jesus  before  Annas.  He  was  taken  there  first  be- 
cause the  Jews  regarded  him  as  the  high  priest;  for  there 
was,  according  to  the  law,  only  one  high  priest,  and  he 
held  the  office  during  his  lifetime;  but  Annas  had  been 
deposed  by  the  Roman  power,  and  his  son-in-law,  Caiaphas, 
appointed  in  his  stead;  hence,  they  had  two  high  priests, 
and  were  so  recognized  (Luke  3:2). 

Jesus  had  seven  trials,  in  four  different  places,  and  be- 
fore three  different  tribunals.  These  trials  occupied  the 
time  from  his  first  trial  before  Annas  on  Sunday  until 
Wednesday  morning,  April  thirteenth,  Nisan  the  20th.  It 
was  the  preparation  for  the  Passover,  and  about  the  sixth 

59 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

hour  when  Pilate  delivered  Jesus  to  be  crucified.  Typical 
of  the  paschal  lamb,  Jesus  was  restrained  from  his  liberty 
four  days,  before  he  was  crucified. 

Professor  Greenleaf,  a  distinguished  jurist,  says,  on  the 
illegal  conviction  of  Christ,  "He  was  tried  on  a  feast  day." 
It  would  hardly  require  distinguished  attainments  in  legal 
lore  to  clearly  observe  the  falsity  of  such  a  statement.. 
For  the  scriptures  are  definite  on  this  point:  that  he  was 
tried,  condemned  and  crucified  on  a  preparation  day.  See 
Matt.  27:62,  Mark  15:42,  Luke  23:54,  John  19:31-42.  So 
what  the  wise  jurist  says,  and  the  evangelists  record  on  the 
sacred  page,  remind  one  of  two  certain  witnesses  whose 
testimony  did  not  agree.  The  eminent  jurist  refers  to  Fri- 
day, Nisan  the  fifteenth,  the  first  feast  day  of  Passover 
week.  And  according  to  the  scriptures,  Jesus  was  not  yet 
arrested.  His  arrest,  his  seven  different  trials,  and  cruci- 
fixion, all  were  on  work  days.  Hence,  the  feast  Sabbath 
law  was  not  violated. 

The  trial  before  Annas  was  one  of  the  shortest  duration, 
and  it  seems  that  no  witnesses  were  called,  yet  it  occupied 
several  hours  time. 

Instead  of  calling  witnesses,  Annas  asked  Jesus  of  his 
disciples  and  his  doctrine.  "Why  asketh  thou  me?"  said 
Jesus;  wrho  stood  before  the  high  priest,  an  innocent  man. 
And  the  mob  who  made  the  arrest,  had  brought  no  charges 
against  him.  The  high  priest  did  not  inquire,  What  hath 
this  man  done?  And  from  this,  the  first  trial,  to  his  last  one, 
before  Pilate,  that  no  fault  could  be  found  in  him,  was  the 
stumbling  block  to  his  conviction. 

With  a  prisoner  before  this  ecclesiastical  court,  with 
neither  charges  or  evidence,  seemed  to  place  the  high 
priest  in  a  dilemma.  And  in  the  absence  of  testimony, 
he  undertakes  to  make  a  witness  of  the  prisoner.  But 
Jesus  refused  to  testify,  and  referred  the  high  priest  to 
those  who  could  give  him  truthful  evidence  concerning 
himself.  However,  this  was  not  the  character  of  wit- 

60 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

nesses  for  which  they  were  looking  at  this  time.  And 
his  suggestion  so  incensed  some  of  his  enemies,  that  one 
of  the  officers  which  stood  by,  struck  Jesus  with  the  palm 
of  his  hand,  saying,  "Answerest  thou  the  high  priest  so?" 
Jesus  answered  him,  "If  I  have  spoken  evil,  bear  witness 
of  the  evil;  but  if  well,  why  smitest  thou  me?"  This  re- 
quest of  Jesus,  challenging  the  officer  who  smote  him  to 
testify  to  the  evil  he  had  spoken,  if  any,  barred  the  witness 
on  that  point.  For  no  man  could  bear  true  testimony  that 
Jesus  had  done  any  wrong;  and  to  the  good  he  had  done, 
they  would  be  unwilling  witnesses.  And  thus  he  had  put 
his  enemies  to  silence.  This  was  the  first  abuse  of  Jesus. 


61 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XL 
PETER  DENIES  HIS  MASTER. 

And  they  seized  him,  and  led  him  away,  and 
brought  him  into  the  high  priest's  house  (Luke 
22:54). 

And  Simon  Peter  followed  Jesus,  and  so  did 
another  disciple.  Now,  that  disciple  was  known 
unto  the  high  priest,  and  entered  in  with  Jesus, 
into  the  court  of  the  high  priest  (John  18:15). 

Now  Peter  was  standing  at  the  door  without. 
So  the  other  disciple  which  was  known  unto  the 
high  priest,  went  out  and  spake  unto  her  that 
kept  the  door,  and  brought  in  Peter  (John  18:16). 

And  the  servants  and  officers  stood  there,  hav- 
ing made  a  fire  of  coals  in  the  midst  of  the  court 
(Luke).  For  it  was  cold;  and  they  warmed  them- 
selves; and  Peter  stood  with  them,  and  warmed 
himself  (John  18:18). 

First  Denial  (John  18:17). 

Then  saith  the  damsel  that  kept  the  door  unto 
Peter,  Art  not  thou  also  one  of  this  man's  dis- 
ciples ?  He  saith,  I  am  not. 

Now  Peter  sat  without  the  palace :  and  a  damsel 
came  unto  him,  saying,  Thou  also  wast  with 
Jesus  of  Galilee.  But  he  denied  before  them  all, 
saying,  I  know  not  what  thou  sayest  (Matt. 
26:69,  70). 

And  as  Peter  was  beneath  in  the  court,  there 
cometh  one  of  the  maids  of  the  high  priest :  And 
when  she  saw  Peter  warming  himself,  she  looked 
upon  him,  and  said,  And  thou  also  wast  with 
Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

But  he  denied,  saying,  I  know  not,  neither  un- 
derstand I  what  thou  sayest.  And  he  went  out 

62 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

into  the  porch;  and  the  cock  crew  (Mark 
14:66,  67,  68). 

And  when  they  had  kindled  a  fire  in  the  midst 
of  the  court,  and  had  sat  down  together,  Peter 
sat  down  among  them  (Luke  22:55). 

But  a  certain  maid  beheld  him  as  he  sat  by  the 
fire,  and  earnestly  looked  upon  him,  and  said,  This 
man  was  also  with  him  (22:56). 

And  he  denied  him,  saying,  Woman,  I  know 
him  not  (22:57). 

But  he  denied  before  them  all,  saying,  I  know 
not  what  thou  sayest  (Matt.  26:70). 

Second  Denial. 

And  when  he  was  gone  out  into  the  porch, 
another  maid  saw  him,  and  said  unto  them 
that  were  there ;  This  man  also  was  with  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  (Matt.  26:71). 

And  again  he  denied  with  an  oath,  I  do  not 
know  the  man  (Matt.  26:72). 

And  a  maid  saw  him  again,  and  began  to  say 
to  them  that  stood  by,  This  is  one  of  them. 

And  he  denied  it  again  (Mark  14:69-70). 

And,  after  a  little  while,  another  saw  him,  and 
said,  Thou  art  also  of  them.  And  Peter  said, 
Man,  I  am  not  (Luke  22:58). 

Art  not  thou  also  one  of  his  disciples?  He  de- 
nied, and  said,  I  am  not  (John  18:25). 

Third  Denial. 

And  after  a  little  while  they  that  stood  by  came 
and  said  to  Peter,  Surely  thou  also  art  one  of 
them,  for  thy  speech  betray eth  thee  (Matt. 
26:73). 

Then  began  he  to  curse  and  to  swear,  I  know 
not  the  man.  And  immediately  the  cock  crew 
(Matt.  26:74). 

63 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

And  a  little  after,  they  that  stood  by,  said  again 
to  Peter,  Surely  thou  art  one  of  them,  for  thou  art 
a  Galilean,  and  thy  speech  agreeth  thereto  (Mark 
14:70). 

And  about  the  space  of  one  hour  after,  another 
confidently  affirmed,  saying,  Of  a  truth  this  man 
also  was  with  him;  for  he  is  a  Galilean  (Luke 
22:59). 

And  Peter  said,  Man,  I  know  not  what  thou 
sayest.  And  immediately  while  he  yet  spake,  the 
cock  crew  (Luke  22:60). 

One  of  the  servants  of  the  high  priest,  being  a 
kinsman  of  him  whose  ear  Peter  cut  off,  saith, 
Did  not  I  see  thee  in  the  garden  with  him?  (John 
18:26). 

Peter  denied  again  and  immediately  the  cock 
crew  (John  18:27). 

When  Jesus  was  arrested,  the  impetuous  Peter  was  the 
only  disciple  who  seemed  to  be  mindful  of  the  declaration 
of  willingness,  to  die  with  their  Master,  for  he  drew  his 
sword,  and  alone  assaulted  the  mob  and  cut  off  the  right 
ear  of  a  servant  of  the  high  priest.  Jesus  said,  "Suffer  ye 
thus  far"  (Luke) — "Put  up  thy  sword  into  the  sheath;  the 
cup  which  my  Father  hath  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it?" 
This  was  not  the  kind  of  weapon  Jesus  required  for  his 
defense;  cast  it  aside,  and  take  up  the  sword  of  the  spirit, 
the  word  of  God,  which  is  mighty  to  the  pulling  down  of 
strongholds,  "casting  down  imaginations,  and  every  high 
thing  that  exalteth  itself  against  the  knowledge  of  God" 
(2  Cor.  10:5). 

And  when  you  are  thus  armed,  you  will  be  ready  "to 
.avenge  all  disobedience,  when  your  obedience  is  fulfilled" 
(10:6). 

Peter,  seeing  the  futility  of  his  effort  to  repel  the  ene- 
mies of  Jesus,  abandoned  his  sword.  "Then  all  the  dis- 

64 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ciples  forsook  him  and  fled."  But  all  this  was  done  that 
the  scriptures  of  the  prophets  might  be  fulfilled  (Matt. 
26:56).  "Smite  the  Shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scat- 
tered" (Zech.  13:7).  Jesus  said  to  the  mob,  "If  therefore 
ye  seek  me,  let  these  go  their  way."  At  this  suggestion 
they  all  ran  away,  and  lived  to  fight  another  day,  the  good 
fight  of  faith,  with  the  sword  of  the  spirit,  which  is  the 
word  of  God. 

Peter  had  made  himself  conspicuous  at  the  time  of  the 
arrest.  He  was  the  first,  and  only  one,  of  the  disciples  who 
made  any  attempt  to  defend  his  Master.  He  was  among 
the  first  to  confess  that  Jesus  was  the  Christ,  the  Son  of 
the  living  God,  and  the  only  one  who  denied  him. 

"But  Jesus  knew  all  men;  and  not  that  any  should  tes- 
tify of  man;  for  he  knew  what  was  in  man"  (John  2:25), 
Therefore,  he  could  say  unto  Peter,  you  will  deny  me; 
"but  I  have  prayed  for  thee  that  thy  faith  fail  not,  and 
when  thou  art  converted,  strengthen  thy  brethren"  (Luke 
22:32).  Among  the  apostles,  Peter  was  the  solid  founda- 
tion— The  Stone. 

The  first  time  that  Jesus  beheld  him  ,he  said,  "Thou  art 
Simon,  the  son  of  John;  thou  shalt  be  called  Cephas,  which 
is  by  interpretation,  A  stone"  (John  1:42),  which  was  in- 
dicative of  the  character  of  the  man;  and  it  was  to  this 
firm  and  reliable  Peter,  that  he  gave  the  keys  of  the  king- 
dom. 

"And  they  all  forsook  him  and  fled."  Only  Peter  and 
John  followed  Jesus  into  the  high  priest's  palace,  and  went 
in  and  sat  with  the  servants,  to  see  the  end  (Matt.  26:58). 

Why  should  Peter  deny  his  Master,  any  more  than  that 
other  disciple  who  was  known  to  the  high  priest?  Peter 
alone  had  made  himself  conspicuous  in  the  defense  of 
Jesus,  and  had  smote  the  high  priest's  servant,  with  his 
sword;  and  he  feared  arrest  and  punishment,  if  it  should 
be  known  that  he  was  one  of  his  disciples;  hence,  he  fol- 
lowed afar  off;  while  that  other  disciple  who  was  known 

65 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

to  the  high  priest,  went  in  with  Jesus  into  the  palace  of  the 
high  priest. 

But  Peter  hesitated,  and  stood  at  the  door  without,  and 
when  John  was  informed  of  his  presence,  he  went  out 
and  spoke  to  her  that  kept  the  door,  and  brought  in  Peter, 
who  probably  felt  a  measure  of  relief,  and  hoped  that  his 
identity  would  be  lost  in  the  crowd. 

But  the  words  of  the  Master  are  being  fulfilled,  and  the 
climax  of  Peter's  being  sifted  by  Satan,  as  wheat,  is  rap- 
idly approaching:  he  must  deny  his  Lord.  Poor  Peter 
hardly  had  time  to  pass  inside,  and  seat  himself  by  the 
fire,  when  the  damsel  that  kept  the  door,  saith  unto  Peter, 
"Art  not  thou  also  one  of  his  disciples?"  He  saith,  "I  am 
not"  (John, — first  denial). 

Second  Denial. 

"And  after  a  little  while  another  saw  him,  and  said,  Thou 
art  also  of  them.  And  Peter  said,  Man,  I  am  not"  (Luke). 
"And  when  he  was  gone  out  into  the  porch  another  maid 
saw  him,  and  said  unto  them  that  were  there,  This  man 
was  also  with  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  And  again  he  denied 
with  an  oath,  I  do  not  know  the  man"  (Matt.  26:71-72). 
Third  Denial. 

"And  about  the  space  of  one  hour  after,  another  confi- 
dently affirmed,  saying,  Of  a  truth,  this  man  also  was  with 
him;  for  he  is  a  Galilean. 

"And  Peter  said,  Man,  I  know  not  what  thou  sayest" 
(Luke  22:59-60). 

"One  of  the  servants  of  the  high  priest,  being  his  kins- 
man whose  ear  Peter  cut  off,  saith,  Did  I  not  see  thee  in 
the  garden  with  him?"  (John).  "Then  he  began  to  curse 
and  swear,  saying,  I  know  not  the  man"  (Matt.  26:74). 

And  immediately  while  he  yet  spake,  the  cock  crew 
(Luke).  And  the  Lord  turned  and  looked  upon  Peter,  and 
Peter  remembered  the  word  of  the  Lord,  how  he  had  said 
unto  him:  "Before  the  cock  crow,  thou  shalt  deny  me 
thrice"  (Luke).  And  he  went  out  and  wept  bitterly  (Mat- 

66 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

thew).  The  crowing  of  the  cock  was  the  signal  of  the  ful- 
fillment of  the  denials  of  Peter.  And  when  the  Lord  turned 
and  looked  upon  him,  he  fully  realized  the  shame  and  dis- 
grace that  he  had  brought  upon  himself.  For  with  the  ve- 
hemence of  a  lying  demon,  he  had  denied  his  Lord  and 
Master.  The  evidence  of  the  damsels,  and  the  kinsman  of 
Malchus,  is  recorded  against  him;  and  the  foretelling  of 
the  time  of  his  base  conduct,  and  the  fulfillment  thereof, 
which  is  signalized  by  the  instinct  of  a  domestic  fowl, 
made  it  evident  to  Peter  that  he  was  convicted  of  a  griev- 
ous sin.  And,  if  he  was  to  be  forgiven,  or  have  the  verdict 
of  guilt  set  aside,  he  must  appeal  for  forgiveness  and 
mercy,  to  him  who  alone  could  forgive  sin.  Peter  did  this 
with  tears,  and  with  all  humility  of  heart  and  purpose,  and 
we  know  he  did  not  seek  in  vain. 

From  the  time  of  the  crowing  of  the  cock,  we  can  with 
reasonable  accuracy  learn  the  time  of  the  arrest  in  the 
garden.  The  first  crowing  is  soon  after  midnight;  there- 
fore, it  is  probable  that,  about  eleven  o'clock  p.  m.,  on 
Saturday  night,  April  the  ninth,  Jesus  was  arrested. 

Peter  and  John,  with  the  rest  of  the  eleven  apostles, 
now  drop  from  sight  until  the  day  of  crucifixion:  Wednes- 
day, April  the  thirteenth,  Nisan  the  twentieth,  when  from 
the  cross,  "Jesus  saw  the  disciple  standing  by,  whom  he 
loved",  and  spake  to  him  (John  19:26).  After  the  resur- 
rection— three  days  later — the  angel  at  the  tomb  said  to 
the  two  Marys,  "But  go  your  way,  tell  his  disciples  and 
Peter,  that  he  goeth  before  you  into  Galilee"  (Mark  16:7), 


67 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

SECOND  TRIAL— JESUS  BEFORE  CAIAPHAS 
AND  SANHEDRISTS. 

Annas  therefore  sent  him  bound  unto  Caiaphas 
the  high  priest  (John  18:24). 

And  they  that  had  taken  Jesus  led  him  away 
to  the  house  of  Caiaphas  the  high  priest,  where 
the  scribes  and  the  elders  were  gathered  together 
(Matt.  26:57). 

And  there  came  together  with  him  all  the  chief 
priests  and  the  elders  and  the  scribes  (Mark 
14:53). 

Then  took  they  him,  and  led,  and  brought  him 
Into  the  high  priest's  house  (Luke  22:54). 

Now  the  chief  priests,  and  elders,  and  all  the 
council,  sought  false  witness  against  Jesus,  to 
put  him  to  death  (Matt.  26:59). 

But  found  none:  yea,  though  many  false  wit- 
nesses came,  yet  found  they  none.  At  last  came 
two  false  witnesses  (Matt.  26:60). 

And  said,  This  man  said,  I  am  able  to  destroy 
the  temple  of  God,  and  to  build  it  in  three  days 
(Matt.  26:61). 

We  heard  him  say,  I  will  destroy  this  temple 
that  is  made  with  hands,  and  within  three  days  I 
will  build  another  made  without  hands  (Mark 
14:58). 

But  neither  so  did  their  witness  agree  together 
(Mark  14:59). 

And  the  high  priest  arose,  and  said  unto  him, 
Answerest  thou  nothing?  What  is  it  which  these 
witness  against  thee?  (Matt.  26:62). 

But  he  held  his  peace,  and  answered  nothing 
(Mark  14:61). 

And  the  high  priest  said  unto  him,  I  adjure 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

thee  by  the  living  God,  that  thou  tell  us  whether 
thou  be  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God  (Matt.  26:63), 

And  Jesus  said,  I  am  (Mark  14:62).  Neverthe- 
less I  say  unto  you,  Hereafter  shall  ye  see  the 
Son  of  man  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of  power, 
and  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  (Matt.  26:64). 

Then  the  high  priest  rent  his  clothes,  saying, 
He  hath  spoken  blasphemy;  what  further  need 
have  we  of  witnesses?  Behold,  now  ye  have 
heard  his  blasphemy  (Matt.  26:65). 

What  think  ye?  They  answered  and  said,  He 
is  guilty  of  death  (Matt.  26:66). 

"Annas  therefore  sent  him  bound  unto  Caiaphas."  John 
is  the  only  one  who  gives  a  statement  of  the  examination 
of  Jesus  by  Annas,  who  sends  him  bound  unto  Caiaphas 
(John) — unto  the  house  of  the  high  priest  (Mark). 

The  house,  or  palace  of  the  high  priest,  was  built  around 
a  square,  forming  an  open  area,  or  court;  and  Annas  and 
Caiaphas  occupied  different  apartments  which  opened  on 
this  court.  All  of  Peter's  denials  were  made  in  this  same 
court. 

"Where  the  scribes  and  elders  were  gathered  together" 
(Matt.  26:57).  The  Sanhedrim  was  the  great  council  of  the 
Jews,  consisting  of  seventy  members,  to  which  the  high 
priest  was  added.  It  had  jurisdiction  over  religious  mat- 
ters. 

Jesus  is  before  this  ecclesiastical  court  without  due  ar- 
raignment. He  had  been  examined  before  Annas,  who 
failed  to  find  any  evil  in  him,  though  Jesus  had  asked 
them  to  testify,  if  he  had  done  any  wrong. 

The  attempt  of  Annas  to  have  Jesus  give  testimony  con- 
cerning himself,  proved  a  failure;  and  he  stood  before 
Caiaphas  without  any  accusation  of  guilt.  And  it  is  proba- 
ble he  was  informed  of  the  result  of  the  examination  be- 
fore Annas.  For  "Now  the  chief  priests,  and  the  elders, 

69 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

and  all  the  council  sought  false  witness  against  Jesus,  to 
put  him  to  death;  but  found  none"  (Matt.  26:59). 

These  wicked  dignitaries  were  assembled  in  council  with 
a  determination  and  purpose  to  put  an  innocent  man  to 
death.  They  did  not  know  that  in  after  years,  a  truthful 
record  of  their  infamous  proceedings  would  be  written  and 
published  to  the  world  for  all  time.  But  their  eyes  were 
blinded,  and  their  hearts  were  hardened  against  any  sense 
of  mercy  or  justice,  and  in  their  rage  they  imagined  a  vain 
thing,  which  will  never  be  forgotten.  They  were  a  cor- 
rupt, dishonest  body  of  men;  not  a  truthful  man  among 
them;  and  they  were  united  in  seeking  for  witnesses  who 
would  testify  falsely  against  Jesus,  who  would  swear  to 
his  violation  of  a  law,  that  would  inflict  the  penalty  of 
death.  Yea,  though  many  false  witnesses  came,  yet  they 
found  none. 

In  the  wicked  endeavor  of  all  the  council,  they  found 
many  witnesses,  but  their  witnesses  agreed  not  together. 
"False  witnesses  did  rise  up;  they  laid  to  my  charge 
things  that  I  knew  not"  (Psa.  35:11). 

Why  did  not  some  of  these  dignitaries  testify?  They 
had  been  sending  forth  spies  and  watching  him,  and  knew 
what  he  had  said  and  done,  and  were  well  qualified  to 
bear  false  witness  against  him.  They  were  vile  cowards; 
for  they  knew  the  law  was  severe  against  those  who  testi- 
fied falsely  against  a  brother,  to  put  him  to  death,  if  it 
was  proven  against  them.  "Then  shall  ye  do  unto  him 
as  he  had  thought  to  have  done  unto  his  brother"  (Deut. 
19:19). 

''A  false  witness  shall  not  be  unpunished;  and  he  that 
speaketh  lies  shall  perish." 

"At  last  came  two  false  witnesses."  The  first  said,  he 
heard  Jesus  say,  "I  am  able  to  destroy  the  temple  of  God, 
and  to  build  it  in  three  days"  (Matt.).  The  second  per- 
jurer said,  "We  heard  him  say,  I  will  destroy  this  temple 

70 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

that  is  made  with  hands  and  in  three  days  I  will  build  an- 
other made  without  hands"  (Mark). 

Jesus  said  to  the  Jews  concerning  the  destruction  of 
the  temple,  "Destroy  this  temple  and  in  three  days  I  will 
raise  it  up.  But  he  spake  of  the  temple  of  his  body"  (John 
2:19-21).  ''But  neither  so  did  their  witnesses  agree  to- 
gether" (Mark).  If  there  had  been  no  discrepancy  in 
their  evidence  as  to  what  they  heard  Jesus  say,  it  would 
have  been  considered  worthless;  for  they  looked  upon  such 
a  declaration  as  an  impossibility.  "Forty  and  six  years 
was  this  temple  in  building,  and  wrill  thou  rear  it  up  in 
three  days?" 

Several  years  had  passed  since  Jesus  said,  "Destroy  this 
temple,  and  in  three  days  I  will  raise  it  up"  (John  2:20). 
And  these  false  witnesses  if  they  recollected  exactly  what 
he  said,  would  probably  have  perverted  his  statement,  as 
shown  by  Matthew  and  Mark.  Jesus  had  been  baptized  by 
John  the  year  before  he  made  these  prophetic  remarks, 
and  was  nearly  thirty-one  years  of  age. 

Herod  began  to  rebuild  the  temple  in  A.  M.  3983,  plus 
46  years — A.  M.  4029,  minus  31  years,  show  that  Jesus  was 
born  in  the  year  of  the  world  3998;  and  according  to  the 
scriptures,  he  was  born  in  the  month  of  July.  Therefore, 
at  the  time  these  false  witnesses  testified  against  him  he 
was  more  than  thirty-five  years  of  age. 

So,  no  false  witnesses  could  be  found  that  would  testify 
to  any  charge  or  violation  of  the  law  that  could  convict 
him.  The  accused  is  to  be  held  innocent,  until  proven  to 
be  guilty.  But  in  the  case  of  Jesus,  it  would  seem  that  he 
was  to  be  held  guilty  by  the  Sanhedrim  until  condemned 
to  death,  without  regard  to  his  innocency. 

Caiaphas  was  becoming  desperate  when  he  saw  that  the 
case  was  going  against  him.  They  all  sought  false  wit- 
ness, but  found  none.  And  there  was  no  true  testimony  to 
any  evil  he  had  done. 

"And  the  high  priest  stood  up  and  said  unto  him."  "The 
kings  of  the  earth  stood  up,  and  the  rulers  were  gathered 

71 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

together  against  the  Lord,  and  against  his  Christ"  (Acts 
4:26).  "Answerest  thou  nothing?  What  is  it  which  these 
witness  against  thee?  But  Jesus  held  his  peace."  And 
there  were  none  present  that  spoke  a  word  in  his  defense; 
no  Nicodemus  to  condemn  their  illegal  proceedings,  and 
say,  "Doth  our  law  judge  any  man  before  it  hear  him,  and 
know  what  he  doeth?" 

"And  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearer  is  dumb,  so  he  open- 
eth  not  his  mouth"  (Isa.  53:7).  From  beginning  to  end, 
the  trials  of  Jesus  were  a  farce, — illegal  prosecution,  with 
no  defense.  "And  answered  nothing"  (Mark).  "But  all  this 
was  done  that  the  scriptures  of  the  prophets  might  be  ful- 
filled" (Matt.  26:56). 

"Again  the  high  priest  asked  him,  and  said  unto  him" 
(Mark).  "I  adjure  thee  by  the  living  God."  Jesus  is  put 
on  oath.  He  had  often  publicly  made  wonderful  declara- 
tions concerning  himself,  as  to  his  character,  and  purpose 
of  coming  into  the  world.  The  ecclesiastical  authorities 
were  chagrined  at  his  claims,  and  told  him  they  were  not 
true,  because  he  bore  witness  of  himself. 

Having  put  him  on  oath,  the  high  priest  asked  him, 
"Tell  us  whether  thou  be  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God.5' 
To  have  the  prisoner  bear  witness  against  himself,  was 
contrary  to  all  procedure  in  legal  jurisprudence.  Then 
why  did  Jesus  answer,  "I  am;  and  ye  shall  see  the  Son 
of  Man  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of  power,  and  coming  in 
the  clouds  of  heaven"?  (Mark). 

Jesus  had  taught  his  disciples,  that  whosoever  will  save 
his  life,  shall  lose  it.  So  we  should  confess  him;  and  if 
we  lose  our  lives  for  his  sake,  we  shall  find  them.  Jesus 
acknowledged  that  he  was  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  that 
he  might  prove  it.  Not  only  to  this  crafty  high  priest  and 
his  coadjutors,  but  to  all  people.  He  knew  that  the  con- 
fession he  made  would  convict  him,  and  that  he  would 
die  upon  the  cross,  numbered  with  the  transgressors. 

By  his  death  the  opportunity  was  given  to  refute  all  the 

72 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

evil  charges  made  against  him,  and  to  show  that  truly  he 
was  the  Son  of  God,  with  power.  For  he  had  said,  "I  lay 
down  my  life,  that  I  may  take  it  again.  No  man  taketh  it 
from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  of  myself,  that  I  might  take  it 
again"  (John  10:17-18).  "Then  the  high  priest  rent  his 
clothes."  B.  W.  Johnson  says,  "It  was  a  form  that  is  al- 
ways used  when  about  to  pronounce  a  judgment."  In  this 
case  this  view  will  not  apply;  for  the  law  strictly  forbade 
the  high  priest  rending  his  clothes  (Lev.  10:6). 

"Saying  he  hath  spoken  blasphemy."  The  high  priest 
seems  to  have  been  both  judge  and  jury.  He  announces 
the  crime,  then  asks,  "What  think  ye."  They  answered 
and  said,  "He  is  guilty  of  death." 

Was  Jesus  a  blasphemer?  No,  because  he  proved  all 
that  he  claimed  to  be,  by  his  death  and  resurrection  from 
the  tomb.  To  the  Jews  he  was  a  blasphemer,  "Because  he 
made  himself  the  Son  of  God"  (John).  "And  they  said, 
What  need  we  any  further  witness?  for  we  ourselves  have 
heard  of  his  own  mouth"  (Luke  22:71). 

"And  he  that  blasphemeth  the  name  of  the  Lord,  he  shall 
surely  be  put  to  death,  and  all  the  congregation  shall  cer- 
tainly stone  him"  (Lev.  24:16). 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
ABUSE  BY  THE  MOB. 

Then  did  they  spit  in  his  face,  and  buffeted 
him;  and  others  smote  him  with  the  palms  of 
their  hands,  saying,  Prophesy  unto  us,  thou 
Christ,  Who  is  he  that  smote  thee?  (Matt, 
26:67,  68). 

And  some  began  to  spit  on  him,  and  smote  him, 
and  to  say  unto  him,  Prophesy:  and  the  servants 
did  strike  him  with  the  palms  of  their  hands 
(Mark  14:65). 

And  the  men  that  held  Jesus  mocked  him,  and 
smote  him.  And  when  they  had  blindfolded  him, 
they  struck  him  on  the  face,  and  asked  him,  say- 
ing, Prophesy,  who  is  it  that  smote  thee?  And 
many  other  things  blasphemously  spake  they 
against  him  (Luke  22:63-65). 

As  soon  as  Jesus  was  pronounced  guilty,  it  appears  from 
the  scriptures,  that  the  court  adjourned,  and  retired,  leav- 
ing Jesus  in  charge  of  the  men  that  held  him.  This,  the 
longest  trial  Jesus  had,  probably  ended  not  earlier  than 
Sunday  evening,  April  10th,  Nisan  17th. 

After  much  shameful  abuse,  his  bonds  were  loosed  until 
the  next  day,  when  he  was  again  bound.  Just  before  he 
was  led  to  Pilate,  Luke  says  (22:66),  "And  as  soon  as  it 
was  day,  the  elders  of  the  people,  and  the  chief  priests, 
and  the  scribes,  came  together,  and  led  him  into  their 
council."  From  this  statement  of  Luke,  it  is  evident  that 
the  court  adjourned,  and  did  not  convene  until  the  next 
morning,  Monday,  April  llth,  Nisan  18th. 

"And  many  other  things  blasphemously  spoke  they 
against  him."  His  persecutors,  and  those  who  charged  him 
with  blasphemy,  were  themselves  the  guilty  blasphemers. 
But  they  did  not  know  it.  "Father,  forgive  them;  they 
know  not  what  they  do"  (Luke  23:34).  "And  he  made  in- 
tercession for  the  transgressors"  (Isa.  53:12). 

74 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THIRD  TRIAL— JESUS  BEFORE  THE 
SANHEDRIM. 

Monday   Forenoon,   April    11,   Nisan    18th. 
Luke   22:66-71. 

66.  And  as  soon  as  it  was  day,  the  elders  of 
the  people,  and  the  chief  priests,  and  the  scribes 
came  together,  and  led  him  into  their  council, 
saying, 

67.  Art  thou  the  Christ?  tell  us.    And  he  said 
unto  them,  If  I  tell  you,  ye  will  not  believe; 

68.  And  if  I  also  ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer 
me,  nor  let  me  go. 

69.  Hereafter  shall  the  Son  of  man  sit  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  power  of  God. 

70.  Then  said  they  all,  Art  thou  then  the  Son 
of  God?     And  he  said  unto  them,  Ye  say  that 
I  am. 

71.  And  they  said,  What  need  we  any  further 
witness?  for  we  ourselves  have  heard  of  his  own 
mouth. 

When  the  morning  was  come  (Matthew) . 
And  straightway  in  the  morning  (Mark). 
And  as  soon  as  it  was  day  (Luke). 

Early  Monday  morning  Jesus  is  led  from  the  palace  of 
the  high  priest  into  their  council, — a  room  or  court  in  the 
temple  area,  where  the  Jewish  court  or  Sanhedrim  held 
its  sessions.  The  council  was  a  judicial  tribunal;  but  it  is 
nowhere  in  the  Old  Testament  called  the  Sanhedrim.  It  is 
supposed  to  be  the  same  tribunal  which  was  instituted 
under  Moses.  "And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Gather  unto 
me  seventy  men  of  the  elders  of  Israel"  (Numbers  11:16). 

The  object  of  this  early  morning  session  of  the  council, 
was  to  hasten  their  wicked  design,  and  to  have  the  sen- 

75 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

tence  of  the  preceding  day  legalized,  by  assembling  at  the 
place  of  Judgment. 

"Again  they  asked  Jesus,  Art  thou  the  Christ?  tell  us. 
He  said,  If  I  tell  you,  ye  will  not  believe." 

The  question  was  not  asked,  that  they  might  believe, 
but  that  he  again  might  repeat  that  confession  which 
brought  upon  him  the  penalty  of  death. 

"And  if  I  also  ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer  me."  These 
dignitaries  wanted  no  discussion;  they  had  already  learned 
that  to  make  any  attempt  to  answer  his  questions,  would 
result  in  failure. 

.Then  they  all  asked  him,  "Art  thou  the  Son  of  God? 
And  he  said  unto  them,  Ye  say  that  I  am"  (Luke  22:70). 
Jesus  repeated  his  confession,  and  they  concluded  that  no 
further  evidence  was  required,  as  they  had  heard  him  of 
his  own  mouth. 


76 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
JUDAS  REPENTS  AND  RETURNS  HIS  PRICE. 

Then  Judas,  which  had  betrayed  him,  when  he 
saw  that  he  was  condemned,  repented  himself, 
and  brought  again  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  to 
the  chief  priests  and  elders,  saying,  I  have  sinned 
in  that  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent  blood.  And 
they  said,  What  is  that  to  us?  see  thou  to  that. 
And  he  cast  down  the  pieces  of  silver  in  the  tem- 
ple, and  departed,  and  went  and  hanged  himself 
(Matt.  27:3-5). 

"When  he  saw  that  he  was  condemned."  The  result 
of  his  wicked  betrayal  of  an  innocent  man  brought  sad 
remorse  to  a  guilty  conscience,  and  Judas  did  all  he  could 
to  undo  his  wrong;  but  it  was  too  late.  He  returned  the 
money,  confessed  his  sin,  and  bore  witness  that  he  had 
betrayed  an  innocent  man.  This  new  testimony  will  not 
be  considered.  "What  is  that  to  us."  He  stands  before 
this  court,  convicted  of  blasphemy,  a  crime  of  which  the 
penalty  is  death. 

"And  he  cast  down  the  pieces  of  silver,  in  the  temple." 
Thirty  pieces  of  silver;  in  our  money,  about  $15.00  (Ex. 
21:32). 

"In  the  temple."  That  part  of  the  temple — the  council 
chamber — where  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  were  then 
assembled. 

"And  went  and  hanged  himself."  Many  have  committed 
suicide  because  of  some  heinous  crime  they  have  commit- 
ted, and  the  terror  of  which  will  cause  the  criminal  to  flee 
when  none  pursueth. 


77 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
DISPOSITION  OF  THE  BLOOD  MONEY. 

And  the  chief  priests  took  the  silver  pieces,  and 
said,  It  is  not  lawful  for  to  put  them  into  the 
treasury,  because  it  is  the  price  of  blood.  And 
they  took  counsel,  and  bought  with  them  the  pot- 
ters field,  to  bury  strangers  in.  Therefore  that 
field  was  called,  The  field  of  blood,  unto  this  day 
(Matt.  27:6-8). 

"It  is  not  lawful  for  to  put  them  into  the  treasury,  be- 
cause it  is  the  price  of  blood."  This  council  was  cautious 
about  the  observance  of  the  law,  when  they  had  to  make 
some  disposal  of  the  blood  money  which  they  did  not  care 
to  receive.  In  order  that  they  might  put  an  innocent  man 
to  death,  they  had  gladly  given  Judas  this  money. 

"And  I  took  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and  cast  them  to 
the  potter  in  the  house  of  the  Lord"  (Zech.  11:12). 

The  sacrifice  offered  for  the  shedding  of  innocent  blood 
could  never  wash  their  guilt  away.  They  could  not  say, 
"Our  hands  have  not  shed  this  blood,  neither  have  our  eyes 
seen  it.  Nor  ask  the  Lord  to  be  merciful  unto  them  and 
lay  not  this  sin  to  Israel's  charge"  (Deut.  21:7-10). 

Their  refusal  to  put  the  money  into  the  treasury  was  a 
vain  attempt  to  shield  themselves  from  the  condemnation 
of  their  own  law,  for  the  shedding  of  innocent  blood. 


78 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

C  HAPTER  XVII. 

JESUS  IS  TAKEN  FROM   THE  TEMPLE   TO 
PILATE  IN  THE  JUDGMENT  HALL 

Monday,  April  llth,  Nisan  18th. 

And  when  they  had  bound  Jesus  they  led  him 
away  and  delivered  him  to  Pontius  Pilate,  the 
governor  (Matt.  27:2). 

And  they  bound  Jesus,  and  carried  him  away, 
and  delivered  him  to  Pilate  (Mark  15:1). 

And  the  whole  multitude  of  them  arose,  and  led 
him  unto  Pilate  (Luke  23:1). 

Then  led  they  Jesus  from  Caiaphas  unto  the 
hall  of  Judgment;  and  it  was  early;  and  they 
themselves  went  not  into  the  Judgment  hall,  lest 
they  should  be  defiled ;  but  that  they  might  eat  the 
Passover  (John  18:28). 

The  sentence  of  blasphemy  pronounced  against  Jesus, 
on  Sunday  before  Caiaphas,  at  the  palace  of  the  high  priest, 
is  confirmed  by  the  same  ecclesiastical  court,  in  the  coun- 
cil chamber  of  the  Sanhedrim  at  the  temple.  Luke  alone 
gives  a  record  of  this  meeting.  Matthew  and  Mark  state 
that  there  was  such  a  meeting  but  do  not  say  where  it 
was  held. 

"When  morning  was  come,  all  the  chief  priests  and 
elders  of  the  people  took  counsel  against  Jesus  to  put  him 
to  death"  (Matt.  27:1). 

"And  straightway  in  the  morning,  the  chief  priests  held 
a  consultation  with  the  elders  and  scribes"  (Mark  15:1). 

They  also  mention  that  Jesus  was  again  bound,  and  led 
away  to  Pilate,  after  this  consultation. 

"Then  led  they  Jesus  from  Caiaphas,  into  the  hall  of 
Judgment." 

This  statement  of  John  is  true,  but  he  omits  their  stop- 

79 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

ping  on  the  way,  at  the  council  chamber,  in  the  temple, 
where  Jesus  had  his  third  and  last  trial  before  the  San- 
hedrim. The  four  evangelists  agree  that  it  was  early 
in  the  morning  when  Jesus  was  led  away  from  the  palace 
of  the  high  priest.  The  trial  at  the  temple,  and  the  dis- 
posal of  the  blood  money  would  require  some  time,  and 
it  was  probably  late  in  the  day  (Monday)  when  Jesus  was 
bound  and  led  away  and  delivered  to  Pontius  Pilate,  the 
governor. 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XVIIL 

FOURTH  TRIAL— JESUS  BEFORE  PILATE  IN 
THE  JUDGMENT  HALL. 

Pilate  went  out  unto  them,  and  said,  What  ac- 
cusation bring  ye  against  this  man  ?  (John  18 :29) . 

They  answered  and  said  unto  him,  If  he  were 
not  an  evil  doer,  we  should  not  have  delivered  him 
up  unto  thee  (John  18:30). 

And  they  began  to  accuse  him,  saying,  We 
found  this  man  perverting  the  nation,  and  for- 
bidding to  give  tribute  to  Caesar,  saying  that  he 
himself  is  Christ  a  King  (Luke  23:2). 

Then  said  Pilate  unto  them,  Take  ye  him,  and 
judge  him  according  to  your  law.  The  Jews 
therefore  said  unto  him,  It  is  not  lawful  for  us 
to  put  any  man  to  death  (John  18:31). 

That  the  saying  of  Jesus  might  be  fulfilled, 
which  he  spake,  signifying  what  death  he  should 
die  (John  18:32). 

First  Trial  Before  Pilate. 

When  Jesus  was  delivered  to  Pilate,  he  was  not  again 
in  the  custody  of  the  Jews.  While  Jesus  was  on  the  way 
up  to  Jerusalem  for  the  last  time,  he  took  the  twelve  dis- 
ciples apart  in  the  way,  and  foretold  them  the  things 
that  should  happen  to  him. 

"Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem;  and  the  Son  of  man 
shall  Le  betrayed  unto  the  chief  priests,  and  unto  the 
scribes,  and  they  shall  condemn  him  to  death,  And  shall 
deliver  him  to  the  Gentiles  to  mock,  and  to  scourge,  and 
to  crucify;  and  the  third  day  he  shall  rise  again"  (Matt. 
20:18-19). 

"And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth."  "This  he  said 
signifying  what  death  he  should  die"  (John  12:32-33). 

81 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

And  Jesus  stood  before  the  governor;  in  the  judgment 
hall,  a  room  or  office  in  the  palace  of  the  Roman  governor, 
where  causes  or  cases  were  tried,  and  justice  administered. 
But  the  Jews  went  not  into  the  Judgment  hall,  lest  they 
should  be  defiled;  but  that  they  might  eat  the  Passover, 
(See  notes  on  Chapter  III.) 

"Pilate  went  out  to  them."  Pontius  Pilate  was  the  Ro- 
man governor,  or  procurator  of  Judea,  and  was  in  Jeru- 
salem at  this  time.  His  residence  was  at  Caesarea;  but 
he  went  up  to  Jerusalem  at  stated  periods.  And  though  his 
chief  duty  respected  the  revenues,  he  exercised  his  judicial 
authority  there  (John  19:10).  Therefore,  he  went  out  unto 
these  wicked  conspirators,  and  said,  "What  accusation 
bring  ye  against  this  man?"  They  had  condemned  Jesus 
for  blasphemy,  but  they  knew  that  to  present  such  a 
charge,  would  expose  the  weakness  of  their  case,  as  it 
would  meet  with  no  consideration  by  a  Roman  court. 

Pilate  knew  that  for  envy  they  had  delivered  Jesus  unto 
him,  and  he  was  determined  that  he  should  have  a  fair 
and  impartial  trial,  which  is  evident  from  the  record  of 
the  proceedings  in  the  case;  therefore  he  asks,  "What  ac- 
cusation bring  ye  against  this  man?"  "If  this  man  were 
not  an  evil  doer  we  should  not  have  delivered  him  up  un- 
to thee."  This  charge  was  too  general  in  its  application, 
An  evil  doer — everything  wrong  and  nothing  right,  in  the 
eyes  of  his  persecutors;  no  specific  charges  of  any  partic- 
ular evil  he  had  done  at  any  time  or  place. 

Pilate  had  knowledge  of  the  trouble  existing  between 
Jesus  and  the  Sanhedrim.  And  seeing  they  were  his  prin- 
cipal accusers,  concluded  that  the  question  between  them 
was  of  a  religious  character,  for  some  violation  of  the 
law  of  Moses;  therefore,  he  said  unto  them,  "Take  ye  him, 
and  judge  him  according  to  your  law."  Up  to  this  time 
they  had  brought  no  specific  charges  against  Jesus;  hence 
there  was  nothing  before  the  court,  and  Pilate  abruptly 
refused  to  further  consider  their  indefinite  claims,  and  dis- 

82 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

missed  the  case.  Then  the  Jews  remind  him  that  it  waff 
not  lawful  for  them  to  put  any  man  to  death.  Jesus  was 
already  condemned  by  the  Sanhedrim,  and  pronounced 
guilty  of  death.  But  under  the  Roman  law,  blasphemy 
was  not  a  punishable  crime.  Moreover,  Jesus  was  not  a 
Roman  citizen,  but  they  hoped  to  execute  the  sentence  of 
the  Sanhedrim  against  him,  by  Pilate's  approval  of  their 
general  charges,  that  he  was  a  malefactor.  Had  the  Jews 
been  allowed  to  put  Jesus  to  death,  he  would  have  been 
stoned. 

"But  the  word  which  I  have  spoken  shall  be  done,  saith 
the  Lord  God." 

The  enemies  of  Jesus  knew  that  if  specific  charges  were 
made  against  him  they  would  be  hard  to  prove.  But  hav- 
ing failed  in  the  general  charge  that  he  was  an  evil  doer, 
they  decide  to  submit  definite  charges  of  a  political  na- 
ture. They  did  not  drop  the  original  charge  of  evil  doer, 
but  explained  this  broad  term,  saying,  "We  found  this 
man  perverting  our  nation,  and  forbidding  to  give  tribute 
to  Caesar;  and  saying  that  he  himself  is  Christ  a  king." 
Three  distinct  charges.  The  first,  "Perverting  our  na- 
tion," would  include  the  violation  of  the  law  of  Moses, 
and  proselyting  men  to  his  doctrine.  The  chief  priests 
and  the  Pharisees  had  declared  that  if  we  let  him  thus 
alone,  all  men  will  believe  on  him  (John  11:48).  The 
second  charge,  "Forbidding  to  give  tribute  to  Caesar," 
which  would  affect  the  collection  of  the  revenue,  a  mat- 
ter directly  in  charge  of  Pilate.  And  the  third,  and  last 
charge,  "that  he  himself  is  Christ  a  king."  If  he  claimed 
to  be  the  worldly  king  of  the  Jews,  the  tribute  they  were 
paying  to  Caesar  should  be  paid  to  the  king  of  the  Jews, 
These  accusations  against  Jesus  were  of  a  grave  char- 
acter, if  true.  To  the  Jews,  the  first  charge,  which  would 
include  blasphemy,  might  seem  to  be  true.  The  second, 
forbidding  to  pay  tribute  to  Caesar,  they  must  have  known 
to  be  a  falsehood;  for  he  had  paid  tribute  to  a  collector 

83 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

at  Capernaum  (Matt.  17:24-27).  However,  this  tax  might 
have  been  paid  to  the  Jewish  authorities  as  a  yearly  tax 
due  from  every  male  Jew  above  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
for  the  support  of  the  temple.  Yet,  it  is  evident  that  the 
second  charge  was  untrue.  For  when  they  asked  him  if 
it  was  lawful  to  pay  this  tribute,  he  answered,  "Render 
therefore  unto  Caesar  the  things  which  are  Caesar's;  and 
unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's"  (Matt.  22:21).  The 
third  charge  was  the  only  true  accusation  that  was  brought 
against  him:  "That  he  himself  is  Christ  a  king."  "For 
unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son  is  given:  and  the 
government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder:  and  his  name 
shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  The  mighty  God, 
The  everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace"  (Isa.  9:6). 
The  prophet  describes  the  true  character  of  him  who 
stands  before  these  potentates.  But  at  that  time,  neither 
his  friends,  or  his  enemies  could  comprehend  the  power 
•or  nature  of  his  kingdom:  for  it  required  the  enduenrent 
of  power  from  on  high  to  reveal  it. 


34 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
DISCOURSE  BETWEEN  PILATE  AND  JESUS. 

Then  Pilate  entered  into  the  Judgment  hall 
again,  and  called  Jesus,  and  said  unto  him,  Art 
thou  the  King  of  the  Jews?  (John  18:33). 

Jesus  answered  him,  Sayest  thou  this  thing  of 
thyself,  or  did  others  tell  it  thee  of  me?  (34). 

Pilate  answered,  Am  I  a  Jew?  Thine  own 
nation  and  the  chief  priests  have  delivered  thee 
unto  me:  what  hast  thou  done?  (35). 

Jesus  answered,  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
world:  if  my  kingdom  were  of  this  world,  then 
would  my  servants  fight,  that  I  should  not  be  de- 
livered to  the  Jews:  but  now  is  my  kingdom  not 
from  hence  (36). 

Pilate  therefore  said  unto  him,  Art  thou  a  king 
then?  Jesus  answered,  Thou  sayest  that  I  am  a 
king.  To  this  end  was  I  born,  and  for  this  cause 
came  I  into  the  world,  that  I  should  bear  witness 
unto  the  truth.  Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth 
heareth  my  voice  (37). 

Pilate  saith  unto  him,  What  is  truth?  And 
when  he  had  said  this,  he  went  out  again  unto  the 
Jews,  and  saith  untp  them,  I  find  in  him  no 
fault  (38). 

"Then  Piiate  entered  into  the  Judgment  hall  again.* 

Charges  of  a  definite  character  having  been  made,  Pilate 
returns  from  the  court  outside  of  the  Pretorium  to  the 
Judgment  hall,  and  calls  Jesus.  The  Pretorium  (Mark 
15:16)  was  the  palace  in  Jerusalem,  where  the  pretor,  or 
Roman  governor,  resided,  and  in  the  hall  of  which  he  sat 
to  administer  justice.  There  was  also  a  similar  place  at 
Caesarea  (Acts  23:35).  There  is  nothing  in  the  scriptures 
showing  that  Pilate  took  Jesus  with  him  when  he  went 

85 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

out  to  speak  to  the  Jews;  if  so,  he  would  not  have  called 
him,  on  his  return  to  the  Judgment  hall. 

The  writer  has  before  him  quotations  by  various  au- 
thors, in  which  they  frequently  discuss  their  opinions  on 
the  points  at  issue,  instead  of  the  simple  facts  of  the 
scriptures.  On  this  question,  we  submit  the  following 
from  Lange's  Life  of  Christ,  Vol.  4,  p.  341:  "When  he 
(Pilate)  undertakes  the  judicial  hearing,  he  withdraws 
with  the  accused,  and  with  the  witnesses  who  take  part 
in  the  prosecution,  into  the  Judgment  hall." 

"Judicial  hearing."  It  is  evident  that  Pilate  was  not 
seriously  concerned  about  the  charges  preferred  against 
Jesus;  for  at  this  time  he  inquired  in  regard  to  one  only: 
"Art  thou  the  king  of  the  Jews?" 

"With  the  accused,  and  the  witnesses,  who  took  part  in 
the  prosecution."  Who,  other  than  the  accused,  stood  be- 
fore the  governor?  And  besides  Jesus,  who  were  the  wit- 
nesses that  testified  before  Pilate  in  the  Judgment  hall? 
There  were  none,  and  to  presume  that  there  was  is  to  o'f- 
fer  argument  without  proof.  Where  the  scriptures  are 
silent,  we  should  keep  silent.  Let  us  not  assume  to  add 
to,  or  write  over  again  what  has  been  well  done.  Outside 
of  the  charges  of  the  Sanhedrist  mob,  none,  except  the 
two  false  witnesses,  testified  against  Jesus.  It  will  be 
seen  that,  in  the  seven  different  trials,  before  three  dif- 
ferent tribunals,  the  procedure  of  the  judiciary  is  similar, 
and  except  as  noted,  there  were  no  witnesses,  save  Jesus 
only.  The  testimony  that  condemned  him  to  death  before 
the  Sanhedrim,  did  not  have  a  feather's  weight  of  guilt 
with  Pilate. 

Another  quotation.  "Pilate  could  not  have  withdrawn 
into  the  Pretorium  with  the  accused,  for  Roman  judg- 
ments must  be  held  publicly."  This  was  true  of  a  Roman 
citizen.  Jesus  was  a  Jew.  If  there  were  none  present, 
the  question  is  asked,  "Whence  had  the  evangelists  knowl- 
edge of  the  trial  going  on  inside  of  the  Pretorium?"  The 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

scriptures  reduce,  what  is  called  a  trial,  to  the  propound- 
ing, and  answering,  six  questions;  five  by  Pilate,  and  one 
by  Jesus.  The  evangelists  have  given  a  record  of  the 
trials  of  Christ,  and  this  record  has  been  declared  to  be 
true,  by  one  who  wrote  it.  Why  should  we  blind  with 
conjecture,  the  eyes  of  those  who  would  learn  from  the 
word  only?  The  infinite  One  placed  the  seal  of  divinity, 
upon  the  minds  of  those  who  gave  us  the  record  of  his 
Son;  and  divine  testimony  needs  no  corroboration. 

"And  Jesus  stood  before  the  governor;  and  he  asked 
him,  Art  thou  the  king  of  the  Jews?"  This  seemed  to 
be  the  only  question  that  concerned  Pilate,  and  from  his 
own  personal  knowledge  he  had  no  reason  to  believe  it 
was  true.  And  for  him  to  ask  this  question  would  suggest 
the  thought  that  some  person  or  persons  had  told  him  that 
he  claimed  to  be  the  king  of  the  Jews.  Therefore,  the 
reply  of  Jesus:  "Sayest  thou  this  thing  of  thyself,  or  did 
others  tell  it  thee  of  me?"  If  Jesus  had  been  present  with 
Pilate,  when  this  accusation  was  made,  he  would  not  have 
asked  him  how,  and  where  he  got  this  information. 

Jesus  had  confessed,  and  frequently  proclaimed  that  he 
was  the  Son  of  God,  and  that  he  came  into  the  world  to  es- 
tablish a  kingdom,  but  its  purpose  and  character  were  not 
understood;  and  except  the  Jewish  ecclesiastical  author- 
ities, he  had  little  opposition  in  his  wonderful  work.  At 
one  time,  the  influence  and  popularity  of  Jesus  was  so 
great  that  the  people  were  about  to  come  and  take  him  by 
force,  and  make  him  king;  but  he  departed  again  into  a 
mountain  himself  alone  (John  6:15),  thus  showing  that 
the  kingdom  over  which  he  would  reign,  was  "not  of  this, 
world";  which  was  his  answer  to  Pilate.  He  further 
said:  "If  it  had  been  so,  my  servants  would  have  been 
doing  their  utmost  to  prevent  my  being  given  up  to  the 
Jews;  but  my  kingly  power  is  not  of  this  world."  His 
servants  live  an  earthly  life,  but  do  not  wage  an  earthly 
war  to  establish  his  kingdom. 

87 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"The  weapons  for  our  warfare  are  not  earthly,  but,  un- 
der God,  are  powerful  enough  to  pull  down  strongholds. 
We  are  engaged  in  confuting  arguments  and  pulling  down 
every  barrier  raised  against  the  knowledge  of  God"  (2 
Cor.  10:3-5). 

"But  unto  the  Son  he  saith,  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for 
ever  and  ever:  a  sceptre  of  righteousness  is  the  sceptre 
of  thy  kingdom"  (Isa.  45:6). 

"Art  thou  a  king  then?"  "To  this  end  was  I  born,  and 
for  this  cause  came  I  into  the  world,  that  I  should  bear 
witness  unto  the  truth."  "Where  is  he  that  is  born  King 
of  the  Jews?"  was  the  inquiry  of  the  wise  men  who  came 
from  the  East  to  Jerusalem  in  search  of  the  new-born  king 
whose  star  they  had  seen.  These  astrologers,  probably, 
were  Jews,  descended  from  the  tribes  carried  into  captiv- 
ity by  Nebuchadnezzar,  were  scattered  among  the  Eastern 
nations,  and  were  familiar  with  the  prophecies  concern- 
ing the  coming  of  a  great  king  or  ruler  of  the  Jews. 

And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  announced  to  the  shepherds, 
in  the  field  near  Bethlehem,  the  good  tidings  of  his  coin- 
ing, as  a  Saviour,  and  a  ruler.  "For  unto  you  is  born  this 
day,  in  the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ,  the 
Lord"  (Luke). 

About  1500  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  a  remark- 
able prophecy  was  spoken,  which  evidently  referred  to 
his  coming.  "I  shall  see  him,  but  not  now:  I  shall  behold 
him  but  not  nigh:  there  shall  come  a  Star  out  of  Jacob, 
and  a  Sceptre  shall  rise  out  of  Israel"  (Num.  24:17). 

And  just  before  leaving  this  world,  Jesus  came  to  the 
eleven  apostles,  and  spoke  to  them,  saying,  "All  authority 
in  heaven  and  on  earth  has  been  given  to  me"  (Matthew). 

"To  bear  witness  to  the  truth."  "For  this  cause  came  I 
into  the  world,"  said  Jesus;  but  he  found  the  world  slow 
to  believe  the  many  wonderful  things  he  said  of  himself. 
Because  the  finite  mind  was  not  fully  prepared  to  be- 
lieve the  record  that  God  had  given  of  him  who  was  to  be 
the  Redeemer  and  Saviour  of  mankind. 

88 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

When  Jesus  read  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah,  concerning 
himself,  to  the  people  of  Nazareth,  and  said,  "This  day  is 
this  scripture  fulfilled  in  your  ears,"  notwithstanding  they 
gave  witness  to  the  beautiful  words  that  fell  from  his  lips, 
they  said,  "Is  not  he  Joseph's  son?"  And  while  he  was 
explaining  the  prophets,  they  became  enraged,  and  tried 
to  take  his  life,  by  hurling  him  down  from  the  brow  of 
the  hill  on  which  their  town  stood. 

After  his  resurrection,  as  two  of  his  disciples  were  go- 
ing to  Emmaus,  he  said  unto  them:  "O  foolish  men,  slow 
to  accept  all  the  prophets  have  said!  Was  not  Christ 
bound  to  undergo  this  suffering,  before  entering  upon  his 
glory?"  Jesus  had  said  that  he  had  the  power  to  lay  down 
his  life,  and  to  take  it  again.  And  when  he  arose  trium- 
phant from  the  tomb  and  won  the  victory  over  death,  it 
was  a  demonstration  to  the  world,  that  he  was  the  Way, 
and  the  Truth,  and  the  Life. 

If  the  Jews  who  had  heard  him  many  times,  and  had 
read  the  prophecies  concerning  him,  did  not  believe  the 
truths  that  Jesus  proclaimed  of  himself  and  his  kingdom, 
it  could  not  be  expected  that  Pilate  would  be  impressed 
with  the  truth.  Yet,  it  was  the  King  of  Kings  who  stood 
before  him,  and  humbly  testified  to  the  truth,  and  not 
recognizing  these  great  facts,  Pilate  exclaimed,  "What  is 
truth?"  After  this  saying  he  went  out  to  the  Jews  again, 
and  said:  "I  find  no  fault  in  this  man." 


89 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XX. 
JESUS'  ACQUITTAL  BY  PILATE. 

And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  went  out  again 
unto  the  Jews,  and  saith  unto  them,  I  find  in  him 
no  fault  at  all  (John  18:38). 

And  the  chief  priests  accused  him  of  many 
things;  but  he  answered  nothing  (Mark  15:3). 

And  Pilate  asked  him  again,  saying,  Answerest 
thou  nothing?  Behold  how  many  things  they 
witness  against  thee  (Mark  15:4). 

And  he  answered  him  never  a  word;  insomuch 
that  the  governor  marvelled  greatly  (Matt. 
27:14). 

And  they  were  the  more  fierce,  saying,  He  stir- 
reth  up  the  people,  teaching  throughout  all  Jewry, 
beginning  from  Galilee  to  this  place  (Luke  23:5). 

"And  when  he  had  said  this."— "What  is  truth  T  Jesus 
was  the  embodiment  of  truth.  It  was  not  possible  to  sus- 
tain any  charges  of  wrong  doing  against  him.  At  one 
time  he  told  the  Jews  they  were  like  their  father,  the 
Devil,  and  were  determined  to  do  what  their  father  loves 
to  do.  That  when  he  lies,  he  does  what  is  natural  to  him. 
"But,  as  for  me,  it  is  because  I  speak  the  truth  to  you, 
that  you  do  not  believe  me."  And  then  he  challenges 
them  to  test  his  veracity,  by  saying  unto  them:  "Which 
of  you  can  convict  me  of  sin?"  (John  8:44-46).  Vain  were 
their  efforts  to  convict  him  of  sin.  And  the  echo  of  the 
verdict  of  Pilate  resounded  again  and  again  in  their  ears. 

"I  find  no  fault  in  this  man."  Jesus  did  no  sin,  neither 
was  guile  found  in  his  mouth.  Yet,  Him  who  never  knew 
sin,  God  made  to  be  sin  on  our  behalf;  so  that  we, 
through  union  with  him,  might  become  the  righteousness 
of  God  (2  Cor.  5:21).  Here  is  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  is 

90 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

to  take  away  the  sin  of  the  world.  A  Lamb  without  blem- 
ish or  spot. 

"He  went  out  again  unto  the  Jews."  It  is  claimed  by 
many  writers,  that  when  Pilate  went  out  again  to  pro- 
nounce his  verdict  of  innocency,  he  took  Jesus  with 
-him.  We  do  not  think  that  the  record  of  the  trials  before 
Pilate  would  support  any  such  conclusion.  For  the 
scriptures  show  that,  during  the  trials,  Pilate  did  go  out 
to  the  Jews,  without  taking  Jesus  with  him;  moreover, 
-there  was  no  penal  sentence  to  pronounce  against  him. 
But  when  the  time  came  to  deliver  him  to  be  crucified, 
Pilate  brought  him  forth,  and  sat  in  the  Judgment  seat, 
in  conformity  with  the  requirements  of  the  Roman  law. 

As  soon  as  Pilate  pronounced  his  verdict,  the  clamor  of 
the  chief  priests  was  heard,  accusing  Jesus  of  many 
things.  The  category  of  the  lying  charges  of  the  Devil 
against  Justice  and  Truth  can  never  be  exhausted.  And 
when  the  faithful  followers  of  Jesus  have  proclaimed  the 
Truth  in  all  the  world,  the  servants  of  the  Evil  one  will 
continue  to  pervert  the  right  way  of  the  Lord.  The  en- 
emies of  the  Truth  can  be  silenced,  or  driven  from  their 
position,  but  they  soon  rally  on  another  as  indefensible. 
More  than  once  Jesus  had  put  his  persecutors  to  silence 
and  shame.  But  now,  to  their  accusations,  he  answered 
them  not  a  word.  And  by  assuming  this  attitude,  the 
plaintiffs  soon  talked  their  case  out  of  Pilate's  court,  by 
the  careless  mention  of  the  fact  that  Jesus  was  a  Galilean. 

"He  is  stirring  up  the  people  by  his  teaching  all  through 
Jndea;  he  began  with  Galilee,  and  has  now  come  here." 
Stirring  up  the  people  by  his  teaching,  was  a  true  charge, 
but,  as  we  have  seen,  Pilate  was  heedless  to  such  accusa- 
tions, as  they  were  but  clamorings  from  the  mouths  of 
the  high  priests.  He  had  examined  the  many  charges 
brought  against  him,  and  declared  to  them  the  verdict 
of  his  innocency. 

*By  His  teaching."     His  teaching  concerning  the  king- 

91 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

dom  of  heaven,  and  the  character  of  those  who  would 
possess  it,  led  many  of  the  Jews  to  believe  that  he  came 
to  destroy  the  law.  This  idea  seemed  so  prevalent  that 
we  hear  Jesus  saying,  Think  not  that  I  have  come  to 
destroy  the  law  or  the  prophets;  I  came  not  to  destroy, 
but  to  fulfil  (Matt.  5:17).  The  law  and  the  prophets  were 
until  John.  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  unto  righteous- 
ness to  every  one  that  believeth. 

Blind  unbelief  is  sure  to  err.  "For,  had  you  believed 
Moses,  you  would  have  believed  me;  for  it  was  of  me  that 
Moses  wrote;  but  if  you  do  not  believe  his  writings,  how 
will  you  believe  my  teachings?"  (John  5:46-47) 

Jesus  knew  the  source  of  unbelief,  and  religious  pre- 
tense; and  He  said  to  them:  "Outwardly,  and  to  others, 
you  have  the  look  of  religious  men,  but  inwardly  you  are 
full  of  hypocrisy  and  sin"  (Matt.  23:28).  Thus,  in  the 
guise  of  religion,  we  behold  the  servants  of  the  Evil  One, 
at  the  head  and  control  of  the  Jewish  church.  Jesus  de- 
nounced these  ecclesiastical  hypocrites  for  their  wicked- 
ness in  unmistakable  terms;  the  severity  of  which  has 
never  been  equalled.  Even  now,  this  might  indicate,  to 
the  true  followers  of  the  Master,  the  real  point  of  attack. 
Are  his  servants  ready  to  wield  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, 
so  as  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  and  drive  hypocrisy  and  false 
teachers  from  the  church  of  Christ?  Or,  are  they  preach- 
ing the  word  with  such  tactical  caution,  that  nothing  like 
the  rebuke  of  our  Master  would  strike  the  ear  of  a  Mal- 
chus?  Or  do  they  sleep  in  their  Gethsemane,  while  their 
Savior  would  have  them  watch  and  pray? 

"Beginning  from  Galilee  to  this  place."  Jesus  began  his 
public  life  and  teaching  in  Galilee,  and  continued  through- 
out all  Judea;  ending  his  life  work  at  Jerusalem.  And 
when  Pilate  heard  of  Galilee,  and  having  satisfied  himself 
that  Jesus  belonged  to  Herod's  jurisdiction,  he  sent  him 
to  Herod  who  also  was  at  Jerusalem  at  this  time.  Herod 
Antipas,  son  of  Herod  the  Great.  He  was  at  this  time 
Governor  of  Galilee  and  Perea.  The  Jews  in  this  case 
against  Jesus,  were  unexpectedly  given  a  change  of  venue; 
and  by  this  Pilate  thought  to  rid  himself  of  any  further 
consideration  of  the  case.  And  the  Jews  were  pleased  to 
have  another  opportunity  to  convict  Jesus. 

92 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

FIFTH  TRIAL— JESUS  BEFORE  HEROD 
ANTIPAS. 

Thursday,  Nisan  19th,  April  12th. 

And  when  Herod  saw  Jesus  he  was  exceeding 
glad:  for  he  was  desirous  to  see  him  for  a  long 
time,  because  he  had  heard  many  things  of  him; 
and  he  hoped  to  have  seen  some  miracle  done  by 
him  (Luke  23:8). 

Then  he  questioned  with  him  in  many  words; 
but  he  answered  him  nothing  (Luke  23:9). 

And  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  stood  and 
vehemently  accused  him  (Luke  23:10). 

And  Herod  with  his  men  of  war  set  him  at 
naught,  and  mocked  him,  and  arrayed  him  in  a 
gorgeous  robe,  and  sent  him  again  to  Pilate 
(Luke  23:11). 

And  the  same  day  Pilate  and  Herod  were  made 
friends  together;  for  they  were  at  enmity  be- 
tween themselves  (Luke  23:12). 

'*And  when  Herod  saw  Jesus  he  was  exceeding  glad," 

He  had  heard  of  the  fame  of  Jesus  soon  after  the  begin- 
ning of  his  ministry,  but  had  not  seen  him  until  he  stood 
before  him,  a  prisoner.  When  Herod  heard  of  the  mighty 
works  that  Jesus  did,  he  was  much  perplexed.  His  guilty 
conscience  smote  him,  when  he  remembered  that  he  had 
shed  the  blood  of  a  good  man.  And  he  said.  This  is  John 
the  Baptist;  he  is  risen  from  the  dead.  John  I  beheaded; 
but  who  is  this,  of  whom  I  hear  such  things?  The  people 
were  confused  as  to  the  identity  of  Jesus.  Some  say  John 
the  Baptist,  some  that  Elias  had  appeared,  and  others, 
that  one  of  the  old  prophets  had  risen  again. 

Herod  was  a  Sadducee,  and  did  not  believe  in  the  resur- 
rection of  the  dead;  but  wonder  and  fear  at  what  he  had 

93 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

heard,  caused  him  to  change  his  creed,  and  say,  John  the 
Baptist  is  risen  from  the  dead.  However,  it  would  not 
be  long  until  he  would  learn  that  it  was  Jesus,  whose 
fame  was  spread  abroad,  and  his  disturbed  mind  would 
find  relief.  And,  as  he  had  made  a  mistake  about  the 
resurrection  of  John,  he  could  with  consistency  return  to 
his  dogma  on  this  subject.  Herod  had  "feared  a  fear, 
where  there  was  no  fear." 

"Herod  had  heard  many  things  of  him.1'  Once,  when 
the  Pharisees  told  Jesus  to  go  away  and  leave  this  place 
(Jerusalem),  for  Herod  wants  to  kill  you;  He  sent  the 
following  message  to  Herod,  saying,  "Go  ye,  and  tell  that 
fox,  Behold,  I  cast  out  devils,  and  I  do  cures  today  and 
tomorrow,  and  the  third  day  I  shall  be  perfected:  for  it 
cannot  be  that  a  prophet  perish  out  of  Jerusalem."  (Luke 
13:32-33). 

"That  fox."  The  fox  was  a  cunning  animal,  and  this 
seems  to  have  been  characteristic  of  Herod.  But  his 
scheme  to  have  Jesus  leave  this  place,  failed.  For  while 
in  Jerusalem  and  Judea,  he  was  not  within  the  bounds 
of  Herod's  jurisdiction.  "Tell  Herod  that  my  work  is  not 
finished,  and  my  time  is  short."  "I  shall  be  perfected.* 
The  Captain  of  our  salvation  was  made  perfect  through 
sufferings  (Heb.  2:10).  "Jerusalem  is  to  be  the  place  of 
my  sufferings  and  death." 

Herod  had  for  a  long  time  been  wanting  to  see  Jesus, 
the  man  who  dared  to  call  him  "that  fox,"  and  of  whose 
fame  he  had  heard.  He  is  not  now  in  doubt  and  fear  that 
he  might  be  John  the  Baptist,  whom  he  had  put  to  death, 
but  is  of  cheerful  mind,  and  exceedingly  glad  to  see  Jesus, 
who  stood  before  him,  a  prisoner,  sent  by  Pontius  Pilate, 
under  a  guard  of  Roman  soldiers.  Jesus  had  many 
friends,  but  at  this  time  there  were  scarcely  any  to  say  a 
word  in  his  defense,  and  the  multitudes  curiously  followed 
him,  as  did  Peter,  to  see  the  end. 

Herod  hoped  to  have  seen  some  miracle  done  by  him;  so, 

94 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

he  questioned  him  at  length,  but  Jesus  made  no  reply,  and 
his  curiosity  was  not  gratified.  Meanwhile,  the  chief 
priests  and  scribes  vehemently  accused  him,  but,  like 
Pilate,  he  cared  little  for  the  clamor  of  his  enemies,  who 
were  repeating  their  false  accusations,  endeavoring  to 
make  it  appear  to  Herod,  that  Jesus  had  been  guilty  of  a 
violation  of  the  laws  in  his  province.  But  Herod  found 
no  evidence  of  guilt  against  him. 

"And  Herod  with  his  soldiers  treated  Jesus  with  scorn." 
He  was  disappointed  in  the  meek  and  gentle  appearance 
of  him  who  claimed  to  be  the  king  of  the  Jews,  and  the 
Son  of  God,  and  whose  fame  was  spread  abroad.  To  Herod, 
the  claims  of  Jesus,  were  imaginary.  And  he  looked  upon 
him  as  a  harmless  pretender;  therefore,  he  was  despised, 
rejected  and  regarded  with  no  respect  or  affection.  "We 
esteemed  him  not"  (Isa.  53:3). 

"A  gorgeous  robe."  The  Roman  princes  wore  purple 
robes,  such  as  the  soldiers  later  put  on  Jesus  at  the  time 
they  mocked  him.  The  Jewish  kings  wore  a  white  robe, 
interwoven  with  silver.  Josephus  says  that  the  robe  which 
Agrippa  (Act  12:21)  wore  was  so  bright  with  silver,  that 
when  the  sun  shone  on  it,  the  eyes  were  so  dazzled  that 
it  was  difficult  to  look  at  it.  For  the  purpose  of  mock- 
ery, Herod  arrayed  Jesus  in  the  gorgeous  robe  of  a  Jewish 
king,  and  sent  Him  back  to  Pilate. 

"And  the  same  day."  It  was  day — not  in  the  night,  or 
early  morning,  as  some  teach.  The  day  was  Tuesday, 
Nisan  19th,  the  fifth  day  of  Passover  Week,  and  the  same 
day  that  Pilate  sent  Jesus  to  Herod,  that  Herod  sent  him 
back  again  to  Pilate. 

"They  were  made  friends."  The  act  of  Pilate  sending 
Jesus  to  Herod,  brought  the  result  of  renewed  friendship. 
It  flattered  Herod  to  have  his  authority  recognized  within 
the  limits  of  Pilate's  jurisdiction,  and  by  his  act  of  civility 
in  returning  the  prisoner,  the  compact  of  good  will  was 
sealed.  "For  of  a  truth  against  thy  holy  child  Jesus,  whom 
thou  hast  anointed,  both  Herod,  and  Pontius  Pilate,  with 
the  Gentiles,  and  the  people  of  Israel  were  gathered  to- 
gether, For  to  do  whatsoever  thy  hand  and  thy  counsel 
determined  before  to  be  done"  (Acts  4:27-28). 

95 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
SIXTH  TRIAL— JESUS  BEFORE  PILATE. 

Wednesday,  Nisan  20th,  April  13th. 

And  Pilate  when    he    had    called  together  the 

chief  priests  and  the  rulers  and  the  people,  said 
unto  them,  Ye  have  brought  this  man  unto  me  as 
one  that  perverteth  the  people;  and,  behold,  I, 
having  examined  him  before  you,  have  found  no 
fault  in  this  man  touching  those  things  whereof 
ye  accuse  him.  No,  nor  yet  Herod;  for  I  sent  you 
to  him,  ancl  lo,  nothing  worthy  of  death  is  done 
unto  him.  I  will,  therefore,  chastise  him,  and 
release  him  (Luke  23:13-16). 

Therefore  when  they  were  gathered  together, 
Pilate  said  unto  them,  Whom  will  ye  that  I  re- 
lease unto  you  ?  Barabbas  or  Jesus  which  is  call- 
ed Christ?  (Matt.  27:17). 

Yesterday  evening,  Tuesday,  Nisan  19th,  April  12th, 
Herod  returned  Jesus  again  to  the  custody  of  Pilate,  at 
which  time  the  mob  had  dispersed  and  retired  with  a 
feeling  that  for  the  present,  their  purpose  to  put  an  in- 
nocent man  to  death  was  defeated.  This  was  the  oppor- 
tune moment  for  Pilate  to  have  set  the  prisoner  free.  But 
instead,  he  plans  a  course  of  action  by  which  he  expects 
to  release  Jesus.  In  this  he  shows  his  weakness;  and  the 
wicked  vacillating  character  of  the  man  is  revealed,  when 
he  offers  to  punish  the  innocent  in  order  to  compromise 
a  case  he  had  already  won.  However,  it  was  but  the  nat- 
ural disposition  of  the  man,  who  had  the  will  to  execute 
his  purpose.  So  Pilate  takes  the  initiative,  and  reopens 
the  case,  issuing  a  general  call  to  the  accusers  of  Je-sua, 
and  the  people,  calling  them  together  again. 

"Therefore,  when  they  were  gathered  together"  (Mat- 
thew). Do  teachers,  students  of  the  Bible,  and  Christian 

96 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

publications  believe,  and  teach  according  to  this  scripture? 
Nay  verily!  If  the  readers  of  the  New  Testament  would 
give  more  attention,  and  careful  study  on  this  point,  there 
would  not  be  such  unbelievable  and  absurd  teachings  as 
to  the  time  occupied  in  the  seven  different  trials  of  Jesus, 
in  four  different  places,  and  before  three  different  tri- 
bunals. 

The  theory,  that  from  the  time  of  his  arrest,  about  mid- 
night, to  about  six  o'clock  the  next  morning,  was  ample 
time  for  all  of  these  trials,  in  the  different  places,  is  un- 
reasonable, incredible,  and  without  authority  or  proof  in 
the  scriptures. 

A  few  years  ago  the  writer  desiring  to  have  some 
scriptural  light  on  this  theory,  of  the  trials  and  crucifixion 
of  Christ,  submitted  the  following  queries  to  a  relig- 
ious journal  of  great  authority  on  these  questions.  The 
reply  is  published  in  full,  with  comments  thereon,  that 
the  reader  may  judge  of  the  merits  of  the  explanations 
given. 

Queries  Submitted. 

Will  you  kindly  explain  and  answer  the  following  ques- 
tions? 

1.  Was  Thursday,  Nisan  the  14th,  a  preparation  day? 

2.  Do  the  scriptures  teach  that  Jesus  was  crucified  on 
a  preparation  day? 

3.  If  so,  why  is  it  generally  taught  that  Jesus  was  ar- 
rested Thursday  night,  and  crucified  Friday  at  nine  o'clock? 

4.  If  Jesus  was  sentenced  at  six  o'clock  Friday  morn- 
ing, when  did  he  have  his   several  trials? 

5.  We  are  informed  that  Friday,  Nisan  the  15th,  was 
the  first  day  of  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread.     Do    the 
scriptures  teach  that  Jesus  was  arrested  on  the  feast  day? 

Will  you  please  give  us  some  Scriptural  light  on  these 
points,  that  we  may  know  the  truth? 
Reply. 

"We  will  summarize  the  data  furnished  in  the  New  Test- 
ament in  regard  to  the  matters  embraced  in  the  forego- 

97 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ing  questions,  so  as  to  present  the  whole  subject  in  one 
view,  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  do  so.  It  may  be  said  at 
the  outset  that  some  of  the  matters  involved  perplex  com- 
mentators generally,  and  no  altogether  satisfactory  ex- 
planation has  as  yet  been  given.  Dean  Alford  mentions 
five  different  explanations  that  have  been  suggested  by 
authors,  and  shows  that  not  one  of  them  satisfied  the  de- 
mands of  the  facts,  and  states  that  he  has  no  explanation 
to  offer.  Perhaps  the  difficulty  grows  out  of  the  fragment- 
ary character  of  all  the  narratives,  some  things  being  well 
understood  by  the  people  of  that  day,  and  hence  not  men- 
tioned by  the  writers,  that  are  not  apparent  to  us. 

"It  is  pretty  certain  that  the  crucifixion  was  the  day  be- 
fore the  Sabbath.  'And  when  even  was  now  come,  because 
it  was  the  Preparation,  that  is  the  day  before  the  Sab- 
bath, there  came  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  *  *  *  and  he  boldly 
went  in  unto  Pilate,  and  asked  for  the  body  of  Jesus'  (Mark 
15:42-43).  Luke's  statement  is  in  substantial  agreement 
with  this.  It  is  quite  clear  that  the  betrayal  and  arrest 
took  place  the  night  before  the  crucifixion,  and  as  the  cru- 
cifixion and  burial  occurred  on  Preparation  day,  which 
was  Friday,  the  day  before  the  Sabbath,  the  betrayal  and 
arrest  happened  Thursday  night.  Did  this  give  time  for 
the  several  trials  through  which  the  Master  passed,  so  as 
to  reach  the  sentence  early  Friday  morning? 

"We  do  not  know  the  hour  of  the  arrest,  but  we  know 
that  the  Lord  was  hurried  away  to  the  court  of  Annas 
first,  where  he  underwent  a  kind  of  examining  trial  (John 
18:12-23).  At  the  conclusion  of  this  trial  Jesus  was  sent 
to  Caiaphas  (John  12:24).  It  was  during  the  trial  before 
Caiaphas  that  the  cock  crew,  and  that  suggests  that  it 
was  about  midnight.  After  this  it  seems  that  the  San- 
hedrin  held  a  sort  of  open  session  in  which  there  was 
further  examination  of  the  Savior  (Luke  22:66-71).  Then 
in  the  early  twilight  of  the  morning  he  was  taken  before 
Pilate.  If  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  everything  was  prear- 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ranged  to  railroad  the  matter  through  and  bring  it  to  a 
speedy  termination,  there  was  ample  time  for  all  that  was 
done." 

Comments  on  Reply  to  Queries. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  reply  to  the  queries  submitted, 
are  not  answers.  Therefore,  not  much  Scriptural  light  on 
these  subjects  was  received,  and  while  the  replicant  is 
unknown  to  us,  we  are  willing  to  give  credit  of  ability 
to  have  given  plain  scriptural  answers  to  some  of  the 
queries  submitted.  Great  authorities  sometimes  refuse  to 
answer,  except  in  their  own  way,  very  simple  questions, 
and  we  take  it  for  granted,  that  the  replicant  knew  that 
to  give  a  definite  answer  would  involve  him  with  perplex- 
ities which,  in  his  judgment,  "no  altogether  satisfactory 
explanation  has  as  yet  been  given."  As  a  great  authority, 
Dean  Alford  is  mentioned,  as  one  who  supports  his  con- 
clusion which  does  not  satisfy  the  demands  of  the  facts. 
Hence,  the  recognition  of  the  demands  of  the  facts  should 
ever  be  our  guide  to  a  correct  interpretation,  and  a  safe- 
guard against  the  perversion  of  the  truths  of  the  gospel. 

The  "difficulty"  does  not  so  much  grow  out  of  the  frag- 
mentary character  of  all  the  narratives,  as  it  does  from 
want  of  careful  and  prayerful  study  of  the  narratives,  as 
given  by  the  sacred  writers.  The  object  in  submitting 
these  questions  was  to  remove  some  error,  and  in  its 
stead,  establish  the  truth.  According  to  the  scriptures,  an- 
swers to  numbers  one  and  two  are  "Yes,  Exodus  12:6, 
Luke  23:54";  number  five,  "No,  not  on  the  feast  day,"  Mat- 
thew 26:5.  But  to  have  answered  numbers  one  and  two, 
as  above,  would  be  to  admit  that  Jesus  was  crucified  on 
Thursday,  Nisan  the  14th,  instead  of  Friday,  as  he,  with 
many  others,  think,  neither  of  which,  according  to  the 
scripture,  is  true,  for  the  Preparation  day,  Thursday, 
Nisan  the  14th,  is  not  the  Preparation  day  on  which  Jesus 
was  crucified.  (See  chart) 

"It  is  pretty  certain  that  the  crucifixion  was  the  day  be- 

99 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

fore  the  Sabbath."  Yes,  it  was  the  Preparation,  Wednes- 
day, Nisan  the  20th,  April  the  13th,  that  is  the  day  before 
the  Sabbath,  the  annual  Sabbath,  Thursday,  the  seventh 
and  last  great  day  of  the  feast:  not  Saturday,  the  weekly 
Sabbath,  for  this  annual  Sabbath  fell  upon  the  fifth  day 
of  the  week,  in  the  year  of  the  crucifixion. 

"If  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  everything  was  prearranged 
to  railroad  the  matter  through."  Prearranged!  It  would 
have  added  credit  to  the  skill  of  this  exegete  if  the  word 
•"prearranged,"  had  been  omitted  from  his  interpretation. 
We  would  inquire,  Did  the  Sanhedrin  have  ready  the  many 
false  witnesses  to  testify  against  Jesus?  No,  and  the  chief 
priests  and  all  the  council  sought  for  witness  against  Him, 
and  found  none.  This  required  much  time. 

Is  it  a  matter  of  record  that  previous  arrangements 
liad  been  made  with  Pilate  to  hasten  the  trial  of  this  in- 
nocent man?  No.  The  scriptures  show  that  Pilate  de- 
layed action  by  trying  to  defeat  their  purpose  to  put  J.esus 
to  death.  And  it  was  not  until  after  the  third  trial  before 
him,  that  he  gave  Jesus  up  to  them,  to  be  dealt  with  as 
they  pleased. 

Was  it  previously  arranged  that  Pilate  should  send 
Jesus  to  Herod?  No.  Until  Pilate  knew  that  Jesus  was  a 
Galilean,  he  had  not  thought  of  sending  Him  to  Herod. 
In  railroading  the  matter  through,  as  it  is  called,  they 
had  not  "borne  in  mind,"  the  way  station,  Galilee.  And 
this,  also  was  an  obstacle  which  caused  some  delay  en 
route.  In  fact,  it  temporarily  wrecked  the  hopes  of  the 
persecutors  of  Jesus.  And  it  was  not  until  Pilate  called 
them  together,  that  they  were  again  in  the  line  of  action. 
Therefore,  we  do  not  agree  with  the  replicant,  that  "there 
was  ample  time  for  all  that  was  done."  And  there  is  no 
evidence  on  the  Divine  record  to  show  that  there  was  un- 
due haste;  or,  that  matters  concerning  the  trials  were 
prearranged.  What  a  wonderful  hallucination!  Yet  thou- 
sands falsely  teach,  that  within  about  six  hours  of  night 

100 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

time,  Jesus  had  seven  different  trials,  in  four  different 
places  and  before  three  different  tribunals.  Do  they  sup- 
pose that  Herod  knew  that  Jesus  was  to  be  sent  to  him? 
and  did  he  arouse  from  his  slumbers  while  it  was  yet  dark, 
and  call  his  men  of  war  together?  Nay,  verily.  Besides 
the  scriptures  say,  that  it  was  day  when  Herod  with  his 
men  of  war,  mocked  Jesus,  and  sent  him  again  to  Pilate. 
After  a  careful  examination  of  all  the  evidence  pertain- 
ing to,  and  the  circumstances  connected  with,  the  trials 
of  Jesus,  it  would  seem  unreasonable  to  accept  this  thread- 
bare theory,  which  is  being  taught  and  published  through- 
out the  world  today.  Such  teaching  is  not  in  accord  with 
.the  writers  of  the  gospel,  therefore  unbelievable,  and 
would  be  rejected  as  untrue  by  any  student  who  would 
carfully  investigate  the  scriptures  on  this  question.  We 
should  believe  the  plain  statements  of  the  scripture, 
whether  or  not  we  fully  comprehend  their  meaning.  And 
seeming  contradictions  must  be  harmonized  with  definite 
facts;  otherwise,  there  is  confusion  and  error.  Wisdom 
begotten  of  imagination  will  never  explain  the  truth. 

"When  therefore  they  were  gathered  together."  From 
the  foregoing  scripture,  we  learn  that  the  accusers  of  Jesus 
had  separated,  and  were  now  come  together  again.  Luke 
informs  us  that  it  was  at  the  call  of  Pilate  they  assem- 
bled. The  first  sixteen  verses  of  the  twenty-seventh  chap- 
ter of  Matthew  includes  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  the 
first  trial  of  Jesus  before  Pilate.  And  the  phrase,  "when 
therefore  they  were  gathered  together,"  could  not  have 
been  explained  by  the  scriptures,  without  Luke's  account 
of  the  trial  before  Herod;  where  they  failed  to  convict 
Jesus,  and  made  no  further  effort  to  prosecute  him,  until 
they  came  together,  in  obedience  to  the  call  of  Pilate. 
For  what  purpose  were  they  called  together? 
At  the  feast  it  was  the  custom  to  release  unto  them  one 
prisoner,  whomsoever  they  desired.  Passover  week  is 
drawing  to  a  close.  It  is  now  Wednesday  morning,  Nisan 

101 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

the  20th,  the  sixth  day  of  the  Passover — the  Preparation 
day.  And  tomorrow  is  the  seventh  and  last  great  day  of 
the  feast,  and  a  Sabbath  day.  Therefore,  Pilate  called 
them  together  to  comply  with  this  custom.  "For  of  neces- 
sity he  must  release  one  unto  them  at  the  feast"  (Luke 
23:17).  And  the  further  purpose  of  Pilate  was  to  release 
Jesus.  But  in  this  he  was  defeated;  because  it  was  a  privi- 
lege accorded  to  the  Jews,  to  choose  whom  they  would. 

Pilate  included  in  his  call  the  people,  as  well  as  the 
chief  priests  and  the  rulers  who  had  condemned  him.  For 
he  knew  that  Jesus  was  popular  with  the  people,  and  they 
might  demand  his  release,  rather  than  a  robber. 


102 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
PILATE  SEEKS  TO  RELEASE  JESUS. 

With  the  multitude  assembled  in  his  presence,  Pilate 
begins  his  defense  of  Jesus.  He  reminds  them  that  they 
had  already  accused  this  man  before  him,  as  an  evil  doer. 
And  that  he  had  examined  him,  and  found  no  fault  touching 
any  of  the  things  of  which  they  accused  him.  Nor  did 
Herod  to  whom  he  then  sent  him,  for  he  has  sent  him  back. 
And  as  a  fact,  he  has  not  done  anything  deserving  death. 
"I  will  therefore  scourge  him  and  let  him  go." 

Scourge  (John  2:15).  The  scourge  was  usually  formed 
of  three  lashes  or  small  cords;  thirteen  strokes  of  which 
were  equal  to  thirty-nine  lashes,  and  not  more  than  forty 
could  be  given  by  law  (Deut.  24:1-3,  2  Cor.  11:24).  Among 
the  Romans  the  number  of  blows  was  unlimited.  Hence, 
our  blessed  Savior  suffered  in  this  form  all  that  his  mur- 
derers thought  he  could  bear.  So  degrading  was  this  pun- 
ishment, that  no  Roman  citizen  could  be  subjected  to  it 
(Acts  22:25-26).  The  body  of  our  dear  Redeemer  was  torn 
and  lacerated  by  this  cruel  and  shameful  outrage,  "and 
with  his  stripes  we  are  healed  (Isa.  53:5).  After  pleading 
the  innocency  of  Jesus,  why  did  Pilate,  contrary  to  all 
law  and  reason,  offer  to  compromise,  by  inflicting  this 
cruel  punishment  on  him?  He  knew  it  was  their  desire 
to  put  Jesus  to  death,  and  he  probably  expected,  that  by 
seeing  him  scourged  and  disgraced  they  would  be  sat- 
isfied. But  they  refused  such  compromise,  "And  cried  out 
all  at  once,  saying,  Away  with  this  man;  crucify  him." 

Jesus  or  Barabbas. 

And  Pilate  spake  unto  them  again,  desiring  to 
release  Jesus  (Luke  23:20). 

Will  ye  that  I  release  unto  you  the  King  of  the 
Jews?  (Mark  15:9). 

103 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas.  Now  Barabbas 
was  a  robber  (John  18:40). 

But  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  persuaded 
the  multitude,  that  they  should  ask  Barabbas, 
and  destroy  Jesus  (Matt.  27:20). 

Which  of  these  two  do  you  wish  me  to  release 
for  you?  Barabbas,  they  answered  (Matt.  27:21). 

Pilate  saith  unto  them,  What  shall  I  do  then 
with  Jesus  who  is  called  Christ?  They  all  say 
unto  him,  Let  him  be  crucified  (Matt.  27:22). 

Second  Attempt  to  Release  Jesus. 

"And  Pilate  spake  unto  them  again.'5  His  first  effort  to 
have  Jesus  released  on  condition  that  he  would  scourge 
him  failed.  And  knowing  that  the  Jewish  authorities  had 
no  just  cause  of  action  against  him,  he  makes  another 
appeal,  in  the  hope  that  the  multitude  would  choose  to  re- 
lease Jesus.  Therefore,  he  says  unto  them,  "Will  ye  that 
I  release  unto  you  the  King  of  the  Jews?"  Pilate  shrewdly 
put  the  question  to  apply  to  Jesus  only,  but  the  chief 
priests  and  the  elders  were  equally  crafty,  having  persuad- 
ed the  multitude,  that  they  should  ask  for  Barabbas. 
Therefore,  the  reply  to  his  question  was,  "Not  this  man, 
but  Barabbas,"  giving  a  negative  answer  to  his  question, 
and  at  the  same  time  taking  the  advantage  to  name  the 
person  they  desire  to  have  released. 

As  the  voice  of  the  people  seemed  to  be  opposed  to  the 
release  of  Jesus,  Pilate  again  submits  the  question  with 
some  modifications.  "Which  of  these  two  do  you  wish  me 
to  release  for  you?"  Barabbas,  they  answered.  Barabbas 
— Some  think  that  his  name  indicates  that  he  was  the  son 
of  a  Rabbi.  It  probably  means,  son  of  Abba.  Matthew 
says  he  was  a  notable  prisoner.  Mark  says  he  committed 
murder  in  the  insurrection.  Luke  says,  "Who  for  sedition 
and  murder,  was  cast  into  prison."  John,  "Now  Barabbas 
was  a  robber."  From  this  brief  history  it  appears  that 

104 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

he  was  distinguished  for  his  great  crimes,  rather  than  his 
good  deeds. 

"The  chief  priests  and  the  elders  persuaded  the  multi- 
tude." The  rulers  feared  that  the  decision  of  the  people 
would  be  favorable  to  the  release  of  Jesus.  Therefore, 
they  persuaded  them  that  they  should  ask  for  Barabbas, 
and  destroy  Jesus.  The  release  of  a  prisoner  was  to  the 
people,  not  to  the  civil  or  religious  authorities.  The 
rulers  of  the  Jews  ridiculed  the  pretensions  of  Jesus,  that 
he  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  King  of  the  Jews.  Had 
the  people  not  been  influenced  by  their  rulers,  they  would 
have  preferred  the  release  of  Jesus,  rather  than  a  robber 
and  murderer. 

Pilate  artfully  presented  in  various  forms,  the  questions 
for  the  release  of  Jesus.  "Will  ye  that  I  release  unto  you 
the  King  of  the  Jews?"  "Jesus  which  is  called  Christ." 
The  people  hoped  that  Jesus  was  the  Destined  Deliverer 
of  Israel.  "But  the  chief  priests  and  our  rulers,  gave  Him 
up  to  be  condemned  to  death,  and  have  crucified  Him." 
They  expected  he  would  become  their  King,  and  would 
deliver  them  from  the  rule  of  the  Emperor  of  Rome.  Only 
ten  days  ago  they  were  shouting,  "Hosanna!  Blessed  is 
the  King  of  Israel  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord." 
But  when  they  saw  him  a  prisoner  bound,  helpless,  and 
without  friends,  and  apparently  devoid  of  all  power  of 
resistance,  their  hopes  fled;  and  they  asked  for  the  re- 
lease of  Barabbas  instead  of  him  whom  they  had  pro- 
claimed as  their  King. 

"Pilate  still  hopeful,  said  unto  them,  What  shall  I  do 
then  with  Jesus  which  is  called  Christ  1"  He  would,  un- 
willingly, grant  their  request  to  release  Barabbas.  Would 
they  not  make  some  declaration  for  a  just  and  merciful 
disposition  of  him  whom  they  had  recognized  as  Christ, 
the  Messiah.  No,  they  all  declare  the  verdict,  Crucify 
him!  This  is  a  case  where  the  accused  is  right,  and  the 
ecclesiastical  authorities  are  leagued  against  the  truth. 
"Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas."  "But  ye  denied  the  Holy 
One  and  the  just,  and  desired  a  murderer  to  be  granted 
unto  you."  "Wrath  is  cruel,  and  anger  is  outrageous,  but 
who  is  able  to  stand  before  envy?" 

105 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Third  Effort  to  Release  Jesus. 

And  the  governor  said  unto  them,  Why,  what 
evil  hath  he  done?  (Matt.  27:33). 

I  have  found  no  cause  of  death  in  him:  I  will 
therefore  chastise  him,  and  let  him  go  (Luke 
23:22). 

But  they  cried  out  the  more,  saying,  let  him 
be  crucified  (Matt.  27:23). 

When  Pilate  saw  that  he  could  prevail  nothing, 
but  rather  a  tumult  was  made,  he  took  water,  and 
washed  his  hands  before  the  multitude,  saying,  I 
am  innocent  of  the  blood  of  this  just  person;  see 
ye  to  it  (Matt.  27:24). 

Then  answered  all  the  people,  and  said,  His 
blood  be  on  us,  and  on  our  children  (Matt.  27:25). 

"And  the  governor  said,  Why?"  The  verdict  of  the  mul- 
titude was,  Crucify  him!  Pilate  still  anxious  to  escape 
the  decree  against  the  innocent  one,  asks  them — Luke 
.says,  three  times:  Why?  What  evil  has  he  done?  And 
for  the  second  time  he  offers  to  chastise  him  and  let  him 
go.  It  was  Pilate's  duty,  as  a  magistrate,  to  have  re- 
leased him  without  making  any  concession  to  his  enemies, 
and  should  have  discharged  Jesus  when  he  was  sent  back 
from  Herod,  who  found  no  fault  in  him. 

Why  did  the  people  prefer  the  release  of  Barabbas?  A 
P.  Stout,  author  of  the  Trials  of  Christ,  page  67,  says: 
"There  were  three  powerful  reasons  why  the  Jews  pre- 
ferred Barabbas  to  Jesus;  first,  because  he  was  the  son 
of  a  Rabbi;  secondly,  because  he  was  a  zealot  for  the  tem- 
ple; and  thirdly,  because  Jesus  was,  as  they  thought,  the 
enemy  of  the  temple  and  the  priesthood." 

It  is  altogether  probable  that  these  "Three  powerful 
reasons,"  are  no  reasons  at  all,  for  their  preference  of 
Barabbas  to  Jesus.  Because,  it  is  unreasonable  to  sup- 

106 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

pose  that  outside  of  the  chief  priests  and  rulers,  not  a 
large  number  of  the  multitude  knew  anything  about  Bar- 
abbas:  that  he  was  either  a  zealot  for  the  temple,  or  the 
son  of  a  rabbi  is  not  at  all  certain,  and  such  conjectures 
properly  belong  in  the  realm  of  doubt. 

As  to  the  charge  that  Jesus  was  an  enemy  of  the  temple 
and  the  priesthood,  the  Sanhedrim  did  try  to  prove  against 
Mm  anything  that  was  untrue.  Matthew  says,  "The  chief 
priests  and  elders  and  all  the  council,  sought  false  witness 
against  Jesus."  At  last,  after  long  and  diligent  search, 
they  found  only  two  "powerful"  liars,  who  testified  falsely 
that  Jesus  was  an  enemy  of  the  temple,  and  the  "power- 
ful" influence  it  had  with  the  mob,  is  very  questionable. 

According  to  the  scriptures,  the  chief  reason  was,  that 
the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  persuaded  the  multitude 
on  two  points:  that  they  should  ask  for  the  release  of  Bar- 
abbas,  and  the  destruction  of  Jesus  at  the  same  time 
(Matt.  27:20).  For  envy,  the  chief  priests  and  rulers  were 
persecuting  him.  They  hated  him  without  a  cause.  And 
Pilate's  verdict,  'I  find  no  fault  in  this  Man,"  was  set  aside 
by  a  greater  potency  than  the  influence  of  a  robber  and 
murderer. 

"When  Pilate  saw  that  he  prevailed  nothing."  His  con- 
tinued effort  to  release  Jesus,  made  the  mob  more  deter- 
mined to  put  him  to  death.  And  by  his  persistence  he  had 
aroused  an  opposition  which  he  feared  to  undertake  to 
control.  And  instead,  he  surrenders  the  official  authority 
he  did  not  have  the  courage  to  enforce,  and  in  justification 
of  his  conduct,  he  took  water  and  washed  his  hands  before 
the  multitude,  saying,  I  am  innocent  of  the  blood  of  this 
righteous  man:  see  ye. 

The  Jewish  law  required  that  if  a  man  be  found  slain, 
the  elders  of  that  city  shall  wash  their  hands  to  show  that 
they  were  innocent  of  the  murder  (Deut.  21:1-8).  When 
Pilate  washed  his  hands,  thereby  intending  to  declare  his 
innocency,  he  forcibly  reminded  the  Jews  of  the  require- 

107 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ment  of  their  own  law.  And  it  was  a  sharp  rebuke  to 
the  authorities,  who  were  ready  to  shed  innocent  blood, 
in  violation  of  that  law. 

"See  je."  By  these  words  Pilate  calls  their  attention 
to  the  washing  of  his  hands,  which  act  they  had  seen; 
thereby  supposing  that  he  would  free  himself  from  the 
responsibilty  of  the  death  of  Jesus. 

"Then  answered  all  the  people,  and  said,  His  blood  be 
upon  us  and  our  children."  Why  did  the  Jews  call  this 
malediction  upon  themselves  and  their  children?  Because 
they  believed  he  was  guilty  of  blasphemy,  and  blasphem- 
ers, according  to  law,  were  stoned  to  death.  Did  Jesus 
blaspheme,  and  if  not,  why?  No,  because  he  told  the  truth. 
He  was  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God.  As  the  Jews  were 
ignorant  of  this  fact,  did  they  commit  sin  when  they  put 
him  to  death?  A  sin  was  committed,  because  Jesus  was- 
innocent  of  the  charge,  and  they  had  opportunity  to  know 
that  he  was  the  Messiah  that  was  to  come.  Jesus  said, 
"If  I  had  not  come  and  spoken  unto  them,  they  had  not 
had  sin;  but  now  they  have  no  excuse  for  their  sin.  If 
I  had  not  done  among  them  the  works  which  none  other 
man  did,  they  had  not  had  sin"  (John  15:22-24). 

Jesus  was  the  fulfillment  of  prophecy,  and  by  his  won- 
derful words  and  works,  he  demonstrated  this  great  truth. 
In  Stephen's  discourse  (Acts  7:51-52),  the  true  character 
of  the  enemies  of  Jesus  is  portrayed.  "Ye  stiffnecked  and 
uncircumcised  in  heart  and  ears,  Ye  do  always  resist  the 
Holy  Ghost;  as  your  fathers  did,  so  do  ye.  Which  of  the 
prophets  have  not  your  fathers  persecuted?  And  they  have 
slain  them  which  shewed  before  of  the  coming  of  the 
Righteous  One;  of  whom  ye  have  now  become  the  be- 
trayers and  murderers."  The  righteousness  of  God  was 
revealed  unto  them  by  the  prophets;  therefore,  they  could 
not  plead  ignorance  as  an  excuse;  for  "the  secret  things 
belong  unto  the  Lord  our  God;  but  those  things  which  are 
revealed,  belong  unto  us  and  our  children  forever"  (DeuL 
29:29). 

108 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Why  Did  They  Eeject  Jesus? 

Paul  says  (Acts  13:27),  "Because  they  knew  him  not, 
nor  yet  the  voices  of  the  prophets,  which  are  read  every 
Sabbath  day,  they  have  fulfilled  them  in  condemning  him." 

They  had  the  scriptures  and  searched  them,  but  did  not 
understand  them  because  his  word  did  not  abide  in  them. 
Coming  in  his  Father's  name,  they  reject  him,  but  another 
coming  in  his  own  name,  they  would  receive.  "If  you  had 
believed  Moses,  you  would  have  believed  me."  Unbelief  in 
the  word  of  God,  the  law  and  the  prophets  was  the  cause 
of  their  rejection.  And  his  wonderful  claims,  which,  in 
their  judgment  were  blasphemies,  were  the  culminating 
point  or  their  hostility. 


109 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

PILATE     ASSENTS     TO     THE     DEATH     OF 
JESUS.— BARABBAS  IS  RELEASED. 

And  Pilate  gave  sentence  that  what  they  ask- 
ed for  should  be  done  (Luke  23:24). 

And  Pilate  wishing  to  content  the  multitude,  re- 
leased unto  them  Barabbas,  and  delivered  Jesus 
when  he  had  scourged  him  to  be  crucified  (Mark 
15:15). 

Then  Pilate  therefore  took  Jesus  and  scourged 
him  (John  19:1). 

Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor  took  Jesus 
into  the  common  hall,  and  gathered  unto  him  the 
whole  band  of  soldiers  (Matt.  27:27). 

And  they  stripped  him  and  put  on  him  a  scarlet 
robe  (Matt.  27:28). 

And  when  they  had  platted  a  crown  of  thorns 
they  put  it  upon  his  head,  and  a  reed  in  his  right 
hand,  and  they  bowed  the  knee  before  him,  and 
mocked  him,  saying,  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews  I 
(Matt.  27:29). 

And  they  spit  upon  him,  and  took  the  reed,  and 
smote  him  on  the  head  (Matt.  27:30). 

And  they  smote  him  with  their  hands  (John 
19:3). 

The  message  Pilate  received  from  his  wife,  warning  him 
to  have  nothing  to  do  with  that  just  man,  and  the  choice 
of  the  people  demanding  the  release  of  Barabbas,  and  the 
crucifixion  of  Jesus,  was  the  cause  of  him  washing  his 
hands  before  the  multitude,  saying,  "I  am  innocent  of  the 
blood  of  this  righteous  man."  "When  he  was  set  down  on 
the  Judgment  seat"  (Matt.  27:19),  refers  to  the  time,  im- 
mediately after  the  assembling  of  the  multitude  in  obed- 

110 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ience  to  Pilate's  call,  after  Herod  had  sent  Jesus  back  to 
Pilate. 

It  was  Pilate's  purpose  at  this  time  to  comply  with  the 
custom  of  releasing  a  prisoner.  He  would  have  been  will- 
ing to  release  Barabbas;  but  in  addition  to  this  privilege, 
they  demanded  that  Jesus  be  put  to  death.  And  Pilate 
when  he  saw  he  could  prevail  nothing,  unwillingly  yielded 
to  the  clamor  of  the  mob,  and  gave  assent  that  it  should  be 
as  they  required. 

"And  he  released  unto  them,  him  that  for  sedition  and 
murder  was  cast  into  prison,  whom  they  had  desired:  but 
he  delivered  Jesus  to  their  will." 

Jesus  is  Scourged. 

"Then  Pilate  therefore  took  Jesus  and  scourged  him." 

It  was  their  will  that  Jesus  be  crucified.  Scourging  was 
a  brutal  punishment,  and  was  inflicted  on  those  condemned 
to  die  on  the  cross.  And  while  Pilate  submitted  to  their  will 
he  did  not  pass  the  death  sentence  on  Jesus.  Thus,  in  a 
measure,  he  thought  to  evade  responsibility  for  his  death, 
and  it  must  have  been  with  much  reluctance  that  Pilate 
gave  the  order  to  his  soldiers  to  scourge  Jesus.  He  had 
done  no  wrong  and  Pilate  in  vain  endeavor  tried  to  save 
him  from  this  inhuman  punishment. 

Jesus  Mocked  and  Abused  by  Eoman  Soldiers. 

"Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor  took  Jesus  into  the 
palace" — the  place  where  the  governor  resided  and  in  the 
hall  of  which  he  sat  to  administer  justice.  It  was  to  this 
"common  hall"  that  Jesus  was  taken  by  the  soldiers,  after 
they  had  scourged  him.  In  this  place  they  gathered  to- 
gether the  whole  band,  all  the  soldiers  on  duty  at  Jerusa- 
lem. Their  purpose  was  to  mock  and  abuse  him.  Mock 
him  because  he  claimed  to  be  a  King,  and  abuse  him,  be- 
cause he  was  a  Jew  and  a  prisoner  condemned  to  death. 
The  soldiers,  if  they  knew,  cared  nothing  for  his  inno- 
cency,  as  did  Pilate,  and  with  their  extreme  hatred  of  the 

111 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Jews,  and  none  to  oppose,  their  brutal  treatment  of  Jesus 
was  not  surpassed  by  the  Jews  themselves. 

Stout  says,  page  75.  "This  is  the  third  time  the  dear  Re- 
deemer was  mocked  on  that  fatal  day.  First,  in  the  palace 
of  Caiaphas  by  the  Jewish  police;  secondly,  in  the  Asmon- 
ean  palace  by  Herod's  soldiers;  and  thirdly,  in  the  preto- 
rium  hall  in  Herod's  palace,"  by  the  Roman  soldiers.  The 
statement  of  Stout,  that  the  third  time  the  Saviour  was 
mocked  was  in  the  hall  of  Herod's  palace  cannot  be  suc- 
cessfully denied.  But  "the  third  time  on  that  fatal  day," 
from  which  statement  it  is  inferred  that  Jesus  was  mocked 
three  times  the  same  day.  Impossible!  The  scriptures 
state  that  the  last  trial  before  Pilate,  ended  early  in  the 
morning,  about  six  o'clock  (John  19:14).  Luke  says 
(22:66),  "As  soon  as  it  was  day,  the  chief  priests  and 
scribes  led  him  away  to  their  council.'5  Matthew,  Mark  and 
John  say  it  was  early  morning  when  they  led  Jesus  away 
and  delivered  him  to  Pilate,  where  he  had  his  first  lengthy 
trial,  after  which  Pilate  sends  him  to  Herod,  who  takes 
ample  time  to  examine  Jesus,  and  with  his  men  of  war 
set  him  at  naught,  and  mocked  him,  and  putting  a  kingly 
robe  upon  him,  sent  him  back  to  Pilate. 

The  Jews  after  the  trial  before  Herod,  dispersed,  and 
Pilate  called  them  together  again.  Then  some  time  was 
required  in  the  several  attempts  of  Pilate  to  release  Jesus. 
This  included  his  second  trial  before  Pilate  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  scourging;  then  the  third  abuse  of  Jesus;  "all 
on  that  fatal  day?"  All  of  the  several  events  narrated  re- 
lating to  the  time  of  early  morning  is  according  to  the 
scripture,  but  that  they  occurred  in  the  morning  of  the 
same  day,  is  not  confirmed  by  the  facts  on  the  Divine  rec- 
ord. However,  that  all  these  events  occurred  from  about 
midnight  to  about  six  o'clock  the  next  morning  is  the  hum- 
drum teaching  of  scholastic  eminence  who  do  not  care  to 
make  further  investigation,  and  they  continue  to  proclaim 
with  much  gusto,  a  theory  which,  for  truthfulness,  does 

112 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

uot  favorably  impress  the  minds  of  the  laity,  nor  them- 
selves. , 

That  Jesus  was  arrested  about  midnight,  and  sentenced 
about  six  o'clock  the  next  morning  and  that  there  was 
ample  time  for  all  the  different  trials  and  marches  from 
place  to  place,  the  abuse,  scourging,  and  mocking  of  Jesus 
"three  times  on  that  fatal  day,"  is  unworthy  of  belief  or 
serious  consideration,  for  the  day  began  at  sunrise.  Who- 
ever proclaims  such  teaching  may  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but 
the  Divine  witnesses  testify  that  it  is  not  according  to 
knowledge,  and  may  a  desire  for  the  truth  and  the  spirit 
of  truth,  guide  us  into  all  knowledge. 

"I  gave  my  back  to  the  smiters,  and  my  cheeks  to  them 
that  plucked  off  the  hair:  I  hid  not  my  face  from  shame 
and  spitting"  (Isa.  50:6). 


113 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

SEVENTH    AND    LAST    TRIAL    OF   JESUS- 
THIRD  TRIAL  BEFORE  PILATE. 

Wednesday  Morning,  Nisan  20th,  April  13th. 
John  19:4-12. 

4.  Pilate  therefore  went  forth  again  and  saith 
unto  them,  Look,  I  bring  him  forth  to  you  that  ye 
may  know  that  I  find  no  fault  in  him. 

5.  Then  came  Jesus  forth,  wearing  the  crown 
of  thorns  and  the  purple  robe.    And  Pilate  saith 
unto  them,  Behold  the  man! 

6.  When  the  chief  priests  therefore  and  of- 
ficers saw  him,  they  cried  out,  saying,  Crucify 
him,  crucify  him.     Pilate  saith  unto  them,  Take 
ye  him,  and  crucify  him:  for  I  find  no  fault  in 
him. 

7.  The  Jews  answered  him,  We  have  a  law, 
and  by  our  law  he  ought  to  die,  because  he  made 
himself  the  Son  of  God. 

8.  When  Pilate  heard  that  saying,  he  was  the 
more  afraid. 

9.  And  went  again  into  the  Judgment  hall,  and 
saith  unto  Jesus,  Whence  art  thou?     But  Jesus 
gave  him  no  answer. 

10.  Then  saith  Pilate  unto  him,  Speakest  thou 
not  unto  me  ?  knowest  thou  not  that  I  have  power 
to  crucify  thee,  and  have  power  to  release  thee? 

11.  Jesus  answered,   Thou   couldest  have  no 
power  against  me,  except  it  were  given  thee  from 
above:  therefore  he  that  delivered  me  unto  thee 
hath  the  greater  sin. 

114 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

After  Jesus  had  been  scourged  the  soldiers  stripped  hint 
of  his  clothing,  and  put  on  him  a  purple  robe,  and  placed 
a  crown  of  thorns  upon  his  head,  and  a  reed  in  his  right 
hand.  He  was  garbed  in  mock  array  because  he  said  he 
was  a  king.  And  they  took  the  reed  and  smote  him  on  the 
head,  and  they  bowed  the  knee  before  him,  and  mocked 
him,  saying,  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews.  Thus  they  defied 
his  kingly  authority  and  power,  while  in  ignorance  and 
mockery  they  were  paying  homage  to  the  King  of  Kings. 

To  these  heathen  soldiers,  his  claims  were  contrary  to 
reason  or  nature.  He  was  without  friends  or  followers, 
and  the  hand  of  every  man  seemed  against  him.  They  did 
not  know  that  his  kingdom  was  not  of  this  world;  such  as 
would  rise  or  fall  by  the  might  of  the  sword.  It  was  to  be 
a  spiritual  kingdom  that  cometh  not  with  observation,  a 
kingdom  of  righteousness  that  would  rule  in  the  hearts 
and  minds  of  men. 

"His  visage  was  marred  more  than  any  man,  and  his 
form  more  than  the  sons  of  men"  (Isa.  52:14). 

And  when  Pilate  saw  the  lacerated  and  bleeding  body  of 
our  Lord,  his  sympathy  was  aroused;  and  a  feeling  of 
pity  for  the  innocent  man  shadowed  his  mind.  And  con- 
science smitten,  he  is  reminded  that  he  had  the  power  to 
obviate  the  unjust  punishment  inflicted,  and  to  which  he 
had  given  his  assent;  thereby  taking  a  step  in  the  wrong 
direction,  he  became  guilty  of  the  blood  of  our  Lord.  The 
act  is  done  and  he  cannot  recall  it:  yet,  as  much  as  pos- 
sible he  would  place  the  responsibility  of  his  conduct  on 
the  enemies  of  Jesus.  Therefore,  Pilate  again  came  outside 
and  said  unto  them:  "Behold!  I  bring  him  out  to  you, 
that  ye  may  know  that  I  find  no  fault  in  Him:"  thus, 
he  reaffirms  his  former  acquittal  with  which  they  were 
familiar  and  which  they  did  not  want  to  hear. 

And  as  Jesus  came  forth  wearing  the  crown  of  thorns 
and  the  purple  robe,  Pilate  saith  unto  them,  Behold  the 
man!  The  man  who  was  smitten  for  offences  not  his  own, 
stands  before  them,  a  pitiful  sight  to  look  upon,  the  result 

115 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

of  their  envy  and  cruel  persecution.  Pilate  was  deter- 
mined to  let  him  go,  but  when  the  chief  priests  and  offi- 
cers saw  him,  they  cried  out,  Crucify  him,  crucify  him. 

"He  that  justifieth  the  wicked,  and  he  that  condemneth 
the  just,  even  they  both  are  an  abomination  to  the  Lord" 
(Prov.  17:15). 

^Pilate,  unwilling  to  accede  to  their  wishes  that  he  should 
trucify  Jesus,  said,  Take  him  yourselves  and  crucify  him, 
for  I  find  no  fault  in  him.  The  Jews  answered  him,  "We 
have  a  law  and  by  our  law  he  ought  to  die,  because  he 
made  himself  the  Son  of  God."  This  was  a  new  charge 
and  when  Pilate  heard  it,  he  became  still  more  alarmed 
and  went  again  into  the  Judgment  hall,  and  said  to  Jesus: 
Where  do  you  come  from?  But  Jesus  made  no  reply 
tJohn  19:9).  "He  was  oppressed,  and  he  was  afflicted,  yet 
'he  opened  not  his  mouth.  He  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the 
'.slaughter  and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so 
lie  openeth  not  his  mouth  (Isa.  53:7).  So  Pilate  said  to 
him:  Do  you  refuse  to  speak  to  me?  Do  not  you  know 
that  I  have  power  to  release  you,  and  power  to  crucify  you? 

Jesus  knowing  his  doom,  refused  to  answer  Pilate,  or 
make  any  explanation  of  the  charge  brought  against  him. 
Pilate,  therefore,  as  an  inducement  to  have  Jesus  reply, 
told  him  of  the  power  he  had  to  either  release  him  or 
crucify  him.  "Thou  couldst  have  no  power  at  all  against 
me,  except  it  were  given  thee  from  above,"  a  power  trans- 
cendent to  the  emperor  of  Rome,  by  which  you  claim  you 
can  release  me.  The  manifest  anxiety  of  Pilate  and  the 
power  of  which  he  boasted  was  human,  and  as  unstable 
as  water,  and  his  actions  show  that  he  was  a  doubleminded 
man  in  all  his  ways. 

"Both  Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate,  with  the  Gentiles  and 
the  people  of  Israel,  were  gathered  together  to  do  what- 
soever thy  counsel  foreordained  to  come  to  pass"  (Acts 
4:28). 

The  power  that  Pilate  exercised  in  fulfilling  the  decrees 

116 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

of  the  Almighty  was  permissive;  that  is,  he  had  the  liberty 
to  act  without  hindrance  and  in  accord  with  his  natural 
disposition;  therefore,  a  free  moral  agent,  and  accountable 
for  the  sin  he  committed.  Pilate  showed  an  honest  deter- 
mination to  have  him  released;  but  Jesus  knew  that  Pil- 
ate's stability  of  purpose  soon  would  be  overcome  by  the 
clamoring  threats  of  the  wicked  Jews. 

Pilate  had  no  power  by  which  he  could  accomplish  the 
release  of  Jesus,  and  his  neglect  to  use  his  authority  was 
a  contributory  cause  against  him.  When  Pilate  assented 
to  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus,  "Wishing  to  content  the  multi- 
tude"— he  had  no  regard  for  justice;  and  the  surrender  of 
his  authority  to  conciliate  a  wicked  mob  was  to  prosecute 
instead  of  protect  the  innocent.  In  this  way,  Pilate  was  a 
powerful  factor  against  Jesus.  However,  Pilate  could  not 
see  himself  at  that  time  as  we  are  now  inclined  to  view 
him,  and  when  Jesus  told  him  his  sin  was  not  as  great  as 
"he  that  delivered  me  unto  thee,"  he  was  alarmed,  for  he 
supposed  that  by  the  washing  of  his  hands  and  the  efforts 
he  had  made  to  release  Jesus,  no  guilt  could  be  charged 
against  him;  but  failure  to  judge  righteously,  the  sin  of 
neglected  duty  had  overtaken  him. 

Pilate's  Last  Effort  to  Release  Jesus. 

And  from  thenceforth  Pilate  sought  to  release 
him.  But  the  Jews  cried  out,  saying,  if  thou  let 
this  man  go,  thou  are  not  Caesar's  friend :  Who- 
soever maketh  himself  a  king  speaketh  against 
Caesar  (John  19:12). 

WThen  Pilate  heard  the  last  charge  against  Jesus,  that 
"He  made  himself  the  Son  of  God,"  and  that  he  was  im- 
plicated in  committing  sin  against  him,  he  was  at  the 
zenith  of  his  determination  to  release  him.  But  his  efforts 
and  pleadings,  however  just  and  reasonable  they  may  have 

117 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

been,  fell  on  unwilling  ears,  and  instead  of  awakening 
any  sympathy  for  Jesus  their  hatred  was  aroused,  and  they 
expressed  their  disapproval  of  his  release,  and  severely 
censured  Pilate's  conduct  toward  Caesar,  saying,  "If  thou 
let  this  man  go  thou  art  not  Caesar's  friend:  whosoever 
maketh  himself  a  King,  speaketh  against  Caesar."  These 
charges  surprised  Pilate,  and  he  began  to  consider  the 
probable  result  of  further  contention  with  the  enemies  of 
Jesus: — a  charge  of  treason,  disloyalty,  and  retirement 
from  public  office  might  follow.  Selfish  meditation  soon 
cooled  the  ardor  of  Plate's  good  intention.  He  would  not 
jeopardize  self,  and  the  stability  of  his  purpose  to  release 
Jesus  was  suddenly  shattered. 


118 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
JESUS  DELIVERED  TO  BE  CRUCIFIED. 

About  6.  A.  M.,  Wednesday,  Nisan  20th,  April  13th. 
John  19:13-16. 

13.  When  Pilate  therefore  heard  these  words, 
he  brought  Jesus  out  and  sat  down  on  the  Judg- 
ment seat  at  a  place  called  The  Pavement,  but  in 

Hebrew,  Gabbatha. 

14.  Now  it  was  the  Preparation  of  the  Pass- 
over: it  was  about  the  sixth  hour:    And  he  saith 
unto  the  Jews,  Behold,  your  King ! 

15.  They  therefore  cried  out,  Away  with  him, 
away  with  him,  crucify  him.     Pilate  saith  unto 
them,    Shall    I    crucify    your    King?     The    chief 
priests  answered,  We  have  no  king  but  Caesar. 

16.  Then    therefore    he    delivered    him    unto 
them  to  be  crucified. 

"When  Pilate  Therefore  Heard  These  Words." 

Pilate's  words  and  conduct  had  continually  defeated  the 
Jews  in  their  purpose  to  put  Jesus  to  death.  For  at  the 
end  of  every  trial  his  decision  stood  as  a  barrier  in  their 
way ;  hence,  they  change  the  policy  of  procedure,  by  accus- 
ing Pilate  instead  of  Jesus,  which  proved  successful  in 
removing  every  obstacle  in  the  way  to  accomplish  their 
wicked  design. 

"He  brought  Jesus  forth."  From  the  guardroom  in  the 
Pretorium,  to  the  Pavement  outside.  This  is  the  last  time 
Jesus  is  before  Pilate.  He  has  been  stripped  of  the  purple 
robe  and  his  own  clothes  have  been  put  on  him,  and  he 
stands  there  ready  to  be  offered,  a  willing  sacrifice  for  his 
enemies. 

"And  sat  down  in  the  Judgment  seat,  in  a  place  that  is 

119 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

called,  The  Stone  Pavement — in  Hebrew,  Gabbatha,"  sig- 
nifies literally,  stone-paved. 

"And  he  saith  unto  the  Jews,  Behold  your  King!" 
Pilate  knew  that  the  Jews  were  envious  of  Jesus  because 
of  his  popularity  and  it  was  for  this  reason  they  had  de- 
livered him.  The  plaudits  of  adoration!  "Blessed  be  the 
King  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord";  "Hosanna  in 
the  highest";  were  the  attributes  of  praise  which  they  had 
ascribed  to  their  Lord  whom  they  now  despise.  And 
Pilate's  language,  "Behold  your  King!"  was  to  reproach 
and  villify  them  for  their  shameful  conduct  toward  their 
King  whom  they  now  reject. 

"But  they  cried  out,  Away  with  Him,  Crucify  Him." 
Pilate's  final  question  was,  Shall  I  crucify  your  King? 
The  chief  priests,  stung  to  the  quick  by  the  continued  as- 
persion of  their  character,  cried  out:  "We  have  no  king 
but  Caesar."  They  despised  Caesar,  and  this  confession  of 
loyalty,  unwillingly  made,  was  to  further  their  design 
against  Jesus.  Pilate  unable  to  stand  alone,  and  for  selfish 
reasons,  forsakes  Jesus,  and  joins  with  them  in  fealty  to 
the  Roman  emperor. 

"Then  therefore  delivered  he  unto  them  to  be  crucified. 
Now  it  was  the  Preparation  of  the  Passover;  it  was  about 
the  sixth  hour"  (John  19:14). 


J20 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
THE  CRUCIFIXION. 

Wednesday,  Nisan  20th,  April  13th. 

The  day — "And  it  was  the  Preparation  of  the 
Passover,  and  about  the  sixth  hour"  (John 
19:14). 

The  Jews  therefore,  because  it  was  the  prepara- 
tion, that  the  bodies  should  not  remain  upon  the 
cross  on  the  Sabbath  day  (for  the  day  of  that 
Sabbath  was  an  high  day),  asked  of  Pilate  that 
their  legs  might  be  broken,  and  that  they  might 
be  taken  away  (John  19:31). 

Now  the  next  day,  that  followed  the  day  of  the 
preparation,  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees  came 
together  unto  Pilate,  and  were  given  a  guard  to 
watch  the  tomb  (Matt.  27:62-65). 

And  now  when  even  was  come  (because  it  was 
the  Preparation,  that  is,  the  day  before  the  Sab- 
bath), Joseph  of  Arimathea  asked  Pilate  for  the 
body  of  Jesus  (Mark  15:42-43). 

And  it  was  the  day  of  the  Preparation,  and  the 
Sabbath  drew  on, — was  beginning  (Luke  23:54). 

Jesus  was  the  last  sacrifice  offered  under  the  law.  He 
was  crucified  on  the  last  Preparation  day  of  Passover 
week;  the  sixth  day  of  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread,  Wed- 
nesday, Nisan  the  twentieth,  the  day  before  the  feast  Sab- 
bath which  was  the  last  great  day  of  the  feast,  and  that 
Sabbath  was  an  high  day  (John  19:31). 

Jesus  died  on  the  day,  and  about  the  hour,  the  last 
Jewish  sacrifice  was  slain.  And  like  the  paschal  lamb,  of 
which  he  was  the  antitype,  he  had  been  four  days  restrain- 
ed from  his  liberty,  at  the  time  of  his  crucifixion. 

If  we  contend  that  Jesus  was  crucified  on  any  other 
than  a  Preparation  day,  we  deny  the  scriptures,  and  we 

121 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

as  well  might  cease  to  undertake  to  teach  the  Bible,  for 
there  is  nothing  more  plainly  taught  within  the  lids  of  the 
sacred  volume. 

The  day: — "And  it  was  the  Preparation  of  the  Passover, 
.and  about  the  sixth  hour."  The  day  was  Wednesday,  Nisan 
20th,  April  13th,  and  the  hour  was  about  6  a.  m.  Roman 
time,  when  Pilate  delivered  Jesus  to  the  Roman  soldiers 
to  be  crucified.  "And  it  was  the  third  hour  and  they  cruci- 
fied him"  (Mark  15:25). 

"The  third  hour"  Jewish  time, — our  time,  nine  o'clock. 
The  hour  of  the  crucifixion  is  mentioned  by  Mark  only. 
John  who  wrote  many  years  later,  followed  the  Roman  cal- 
endar, which  began  the  count  at  midnight:  therefore,  the 
sixth  hour  would  be  six  o'clock  in  the  morning, — Jewish 
time,  the  first  hour  of  the  day. 

According  to  the  scriptures,  there  were  two  feast  days 
during  Passover  week.  The  first  feast  day  was  on  Friday, 
.Nisan  the  fifteenth,  the  first  day  of  the  feast'  of 
unleavened  bread.  The  second  feast  day  was  on  Thurs- 
day, Nisan  the  twenty-first,  the  seventh  and  last  great  day 
of  the  feast.  Both  the  first  day  of  the  Passover  week,  and 
the  seventh  day  were  Sabbath  days,  and  no  servile  work 
could  be  done;  therefore,  Thursday,  Nisan  the  fourteenth, 
and  Wednesday,  Nisan  the  twentieth,  were  Preparation 
days  for  the  feast  Sabbaths.  On  one  of  these,  the  day 
before  the  Sabbath,  Jesus  was  crucified.  Five  days  inter- 
vene between  these  Preparation  days,  two  of  which,  Friday 
and  Saturday,  the  15th  and  16th,  were  Sabbath  days  on 
which  Jesus  with  the  apostles  remained  in  the  upper  room 
in  the  city  of  Jerusalem.  From  sunset  Saturday  evening 
to  early  Wednesday  morning  there  would  be  ample  time 
for  the  arrest,  and  the  seven  different  trials  in  four  dif- 
ferent places  and  before  three  different  tribunals.  As  the 
intervening  days  were  work  days  there  was  no  violation 
of  the  law  as  to  the  time  of  his  arrest,  trials  and  cruci- 
fixion. It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  day  of  the  cruci- 

122 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 


Hxion  was  the  preparation  for  the  Passover  Sabbath— 
Thursday — not  the  seventh  day  Sabbath,  Saturday. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  30  the  preparation  for  the  last 
.great  day  of  the  Passover,  fell  upon  the  fourth  day  of  the 
week  therefore,  would  not  be  Friday. 

On  which  of  these  Preparation  days,  Thursday,  Nisan 
the  14th,  or  Wednesday,  Nisan  the  20th,  was  Jesus  cruci- 
fied? Let  us  place  in  columns  side  by  side,  a  narration 
of  the  events  concerning  Jesus  on  these  two  days. 

Such  a  comparison  will  teach  a  lesson  more  forcibly 
than  "the  unbroken  ranks  (?)  of  advanced  biblical  scholar- 
ship", or  destructive  critics,  which  bring  to  the  mind  of 
an  old  soldier  of  the  faith,  vivid  scenes  of  shattered  ranks, 
with  many  dead  and  dying  critical  heroes,  lying  slain 
and  mangled  along  the  way  to  a  higher  criticism. 


Preparation  Day. 

Thursday,  Nisan   14th. 
For   the    first   feast    of   the 

Passover. 
Matt.   26:17-20. 

17.  Now  the  first  day  of 
the      feast     of    unleavened 
bread  the  disciples  came  to 
Jesus,     saying     unto     him, 
Where    wilt    thou    that    we 
prepare  for  thee  to  eat  the 
Passover? 

18.  And  he  said,  Go  into 
the  city  to  such  a  man,  and 
say   unto  him,   The   Master 
saith,  My  time  is  at  hand: 
I  will  keep  the  Passover  at 
thy    house     with    my     dis- 
ciples. 

19.  And  the  disciples  did 


Preparation  Day. 

Wednesday,  Nisan  20th. 

For    the    last    feast    of    the 
Passover — Jesus 

Crucified. 
Matt.   27:57-58. 

57.  When   the   even   was 
come     there     came    a    rich 
man    of    Arimathea    named 
Joseph,    who    also    himself 
was  Jesus'  disciple. 

58.  He     went    to     Pilate 
and    begged     the     body    of 
Jesus. 

Mark   15:42-43. 

42.     And    now    when    the 

even  was  come,  because  it 

was  thePreparation,  that  is, 

the  day  before  the  Sabbath. 


123 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 


as  Jesus  had  appointed 
them;  and  they  made  ready 
the  Passover. 

20.  Now  when  the  even 
was  come,  he  sat  down 
with  the  twelve. 

Luke  22:7-14. 

7.  Then  came  the  day  of 
unleavened  bread,  when  the 
Passover  must  be  killed. 

8.  And     he     sent     Peter 
and    John,    saying,   Go   and 
prepare    us    the    Passover, 
that  we  may  eat. 

9.  And     they     said    unto 
him,  Where  wilt  thou  that 
we  prepare? 

10.  And     he     said     unto 
them,  Behold,  when  ye  are 
entered  into  the  city,  there 
shall  a  man  meet  you,  bear- 
ing a  pitcher  of  water;  fol- 
low   him     into     the    house 
where  he  entereth  in. 

11.  And     ye     shall     say 
unto   the  good   man   of  the 
house,     The     Master     saith 
unto    thee,    Where    is     the 
guest     chamber,     where    I 
shall  eat  the  Passover  with 
my  disciples? 

12.  And    he    shall    show 
you     a     large    upper    room 
furnished :        there       make 
ready. 

13.  And   they   went,   and 


43.  Joseph  of  Arima- 
thea,  an  honorable  counsel- 
lor, which  also  waited  for 
the  kingdom  of  God,  came, 
and  went  in  boldly  unto 
Pilate,  and  craved  the  body 
of  Jesus. 

Luke   23:53-54. 

53.  And  he  took  it  down, 
and    wrapped     it     in    linen, 
and   laid   it  in   a  sepulchre 
that    was     hewn     in    stone, 
wherein   never   man   before 
was  laid. 

54.  And    that     day     was 
the    Preparation,    and    the 
Sabbath   drew  on    (was   be- 
ginning). 

John  19:14,  31,  41,  42. 

14.  And  it  was  the  Pre- 
paration of  the  Passover, 
and  about  the  sixth  hour. 

31.  The  Jews  therefore, 
because  it  was  the  Prepar- 
ation that  the  bodies  should 
not  remain  upon  the  cross 
on  the  Sabbath  day  (for 
that  Sabbath  was  a  great 
day),  besought  Pilate  that 
their  legs  might  be  broken, 
and  that  they  might  be 
taken  away. 

41.  Now  in  the  place 
where  he  was  crucified 
there  was  a  garden,  and  in 
the  garden  a  new  sepulchre, 


124 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

found  as  he  had  said  unto  wherein  was  never  man  yet 

them:  and  they  made  ready  laid. 

the   Passover.  42.       There       laid      they 

14.     And    when   the   hour  Jesus  therefore   because   of 

was  come,  he  sat  down  and  the  Jews'  Preparation  day; 

the     twelve     apostles    with  for  the  sepulchre  was  nigh 

him.  at  hand. 
Mark   14:17. 

And    in    the    evening    he 
cometh  with  the  twelve. 

The  foregoing  scripture  stating  what  Jesus  did  on  the 
Preparation  day,  Thursday,  Nisan  the  14th,  is  so  plain  and 
definite,  that  to  contend,  as  some  do,  that  he  was  crucified 
on  that  day  would  be  an  impious  criticism  of  the  Divine 
record,  and  a  perversion  of  the  sacred  unchangeable  truth. 

It  seems  that  those  who  change  the  narrative  of  the 
events  of  the  last  week  of  our  Lord,  believe  the  evangelists 
are  in  many  instances  wrong,  and  it  is  their  business  to 
correct  their  errors.  However,  the  writer  prefers  to  rely 
on  the  scriptures  for  information  on  the  subjects  under 
consideration,  as  they  alone  reveal  the  truth  concerning 
these  events.  The  scriptures  contain  the  definite  state- 
ments of  Jesus  and  the  evangelistic  writers,  which  are  the 
foundation  facts  from  which  a  stable  and  correct  conclu- 
sion can  be  reached. 

The  synoptic  writers  definitely  testify  to  the  events  of 
Thursday,  Nisan  the  fourteenth,  and  they  do  not  in  any 
way  refer  to,  nor  mention,  the  crucifixion.  But  the  critics 
would  pervert  the  scriptures  in  vain  endeavor  to  make 
them  refer  to  an  anticipatory  supper,  following  the  thir- 
teenth of  Nisan,  but,  neither  according  to  the  law  or  cus- 
tom, was  the  lamb  slain  on  that  day.  And  it  would  be  un- 
righteous folly  to  teach  such  unsound  doctrine,  neither  in 
harmony  with  the  law  or  the  gospel.  An  exegesis  based 
upon  the  imagination  may  be  highly  entertaining,  but  it 
lacks  frequently  the  more  prosaic  element  of  fact.  Accord- 

125 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ing  to  the  scriptures,  there  is  not  a  scintilla  of  evidence 
to  show  that  Jesus  was  crucified  on  Thursday,  Nisan  the- 
fourteenth. 

The  story  of  Jonah,  Matthew  12:40,  which  is  the  in- 
spired word  of  God,  is  the  stumbling  stone  over  which  com- 
mentators fall  in  their  futile  efforts  to  solve  the  problem 
of  the  definitely  stated  time,  of  three  days  and  three  nights r 
and  their  methods  of  the  computation  of  time  would  as- 
tound the  puerile  mind  of  the  ordinary  schoolboy.  The 
advocates  of  a  Thursday  crucifixion  without  regard  to  the 
testimony  of  Matthew,  Mark  and  Luke  to  the  contrary, 
would  have  Jesus  crucified  on  the  day  before  he  sat  down 
with  the  twelve,  and  ate  the  Passover. 

We  notice  one  commentator  on  "The  Crucifixion  Day," 
who  claims  that  Nisan  the  14th  fell  on  Wednesday,  and 
that  Jesus  was  crucified  on  this  day.  His  comments  con- 
tain some  valuable  suggestions  as  he  begins  the  investiga- 
tion with  the  Master  Key  to  the  correct  solution  of  the 
problems  of  Passion  week. 

"For  as  Jonah  was  three  days  and  three  nights  in  the 
sea-monster,  so  shall  the  Son  of  Man  be  three  days  and 
three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the  earth"  (Matt.  12:40). 

This  claim,  if  true,  would  fit  the  key  of  three  days  and 
three  nights  in  the  tomb,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  a  clever 
retreat  from  Thursday  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the 
full  count  of  time. 

Moreover,  "according  to  astronomical  calculation  of  Jo- 
hann  Frederick  Wurm,  Professor  of  Mathematics  at  Stutt- 
gart, the  15th  day  of  Nisan  fell  upon  a  Friday  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  30.  These  results  have  been  confirmed"  (Keim, 
240,  Vol.  6). 

However,  we  might  go  back  as  far  as  we  desired  for 
the  first  Preparation  day,  Nisan  the  fourteenth,  as  the 
day  of  the  Crucifixion,  and  we  would  still  have  before  us 
the  same  "rock  of  offense,"  and  stumble  at  the  word  (I 
Peter  2:8),  the  narratives  of  the  synoptic  writers  show- 

126 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ing  in  definite  terms  that  Jesus  was  not  crucified  on  that 
day. 

If  this  key,  the  story  of  Jonah,  is  applied  to  Wednesday, 
Nisan  the  twentieth,  the  last  Preparation  day  for  the  Pass- 
over, the  day  that  Jesus  was  delivered  to  be  crucified  (John 
19:14-16),  the  problem  is  correctly  solved,  beyond  success- 
ful contradiction.  "And  ye  are  witnesses  of  these  things," 
said  Jesus.  Thus  the  testimony  of  the  evangelistic  writers 
stands  as  an  immovable  barrier  against  the  perversion  of 
the  scripture  by  either  the  honest  commentator  or  the 
destructive  critic.  "When  any  proposition  is  proved  to  be 
true,  the  universe  could  not  prove  it  false."  Therefore  we 
conclude  that  according  to  the  scriptures  and  without  re- 
gard to  the  day  of  the  week,  Jesus  was  not  crucified  on 
the  fourteenth  day  of  Nisan,  the  first  Preparation  day  for 
the  feast  of  unleavened  bread,  but  on  Wednesday,  Nisan  the 
20th,  April  13th.  "And  it  was  the  Preparation  of  the  Pass- 
over" (John  19:14),  not  the  weekly  Sabbath. 

"Was  Jesus  crucified  on  Friday,  Nisan  the  fifteenth,— 
the  feast- Sabbath,  the  first  day  of  the  Passover  week?* 
This  is  the  old  hare-brained  theory,  proclaimed  for  a  thou- 
sand years  past  and  for  which  there  is  no  foundation  fact 
in  the  scriptures.  The  great  preponderance  of  Biblical  tes- 
timony is  against  a  Friday  crucifixion.  In  fact,  theie  is 
not  a  shadow  of  direct  evidence  to  support  such  a  conclu- 
sion. The  crucifixion  on  that  day  is  not  even  mentioned 
or  referred  to  in  any  way — then,  why  Friday? 

"Prove  all  things;  hold  fast  that  which  is  good,"  is  not 
an  idle  saying. 

Moreover,  John  19:31  says:  "The  Jews  therefore  be- 
cause it  was  the  Preparation,  that  the  bodies  should  not 
remain  on  the  cross  on  the  Sabbath  day,  (for  that  Sabbath 
day  was  a  great  day)  besought  Pilate  that  their  legs  might 
be  broken  and  that  they  might  be  taken  away." 

In  the  year  of  the  crucifixion,  Friday,  Nisan  the  15th, 
was  the  first  feast  day  of  Passover  week,  and  a  Sabbath  day 

127 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

on  which  no  servile  work  could  be  done.  Therefore,  the 
preparation  required  for  both  the  annual  and  weekly  Sab- 
bath would  be  made  on  the  regular  preparation  day,  Thurs- 
day, Nisan  the  fourteenth.  Moreover,  in  reference  to  the 
day  of  the  crucifixion,  no  Sabbatical  character  is  men- 
tioned. 

The  preparation  days  of  Passion  week,  so  frequently 
mentioned  by  the  evangelistic  writers,  refer  to  Thursday, 
Nisan  the  14th,  and  Wednesday,  Nisan  the  20th;  both  of 
which  are  days  before  the  feast  day  Sabbaths — Friday, 
the  15th,  and  Thursday,  the  21st  day  of  Nisan. 

"That  the  bodies  should  not  remain  on  the  cross  on  the 
Sabbath  day."  It  is  generally  claimed  that  Saturday,  the 
weekly  Sabbath,  is  understood,  but  according  to  the  scrip- 
tures, this  could  not  be  true,  for  those  who  contend  for  a 
Friday  crucifixion  deny  the  words  of  Jesus,  that  he  would 
be  three  days  and  three  nights  in  the  tomb,  and  make  the 
fulfillment  of  his  prediction  an  impossibility.  Therefore, 
there  must  be  three  full  days  and  nights  between  the 
crucifixion  and  the  resurrection  if  a  correct  solution  of  this 
problem  is  obtained.  Yet  there  are  men  of  profound 
Biblical  education  who  cling  to  this  false  theory,  one  of 
whom  is  so  sure  of  the  correct  solution  of  the  problem, 
and  presuming  that  the  further  discussion  of  the  incident 
might  as  well  be  closed,  descants  as  follows:  "It  is  ad- 
mitted on  all  sides,  therefore  need  not  be  considered,  that 
Jesus  died  on  Friday  in  the  afternoon"  (Andrews).  And 
where  there  is  definite  reliable  testimony  to  the  contrary, 
a  speculative  theory  is  untrue  and  "without  value."  Jesus 
said,  "How  shall  ye  believe  my  words?  Behold  I  have 
told  you  before." 

"On  all  sides,"  there  is  too  much  error  "admitted."  Hence 
the  necessity  of  contending  earnestly  for  the  truth  that  it 
may  eradicate  from  the  heedless  mind,  the  long  established 
errors  of  the  past.  Let  us  be  guided  by  the  light  of  his 
word  as  he  is  in  the  light.  We  have  already  referred 

128 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

to  the  story  of  Jonah  which  is  confirmed  by  our  Lord, 
and  it  is  the  Master  Key  that  solves  the  problem  as  to 
the  exact  day  of  the  crucifixion.  Matthew  28:1  declares 
that  it  was,  "In  the  end  of  the  Sabbath"  (Saturday  even- 
ing) that  Mary  Magdalene  first  visited  the  sepulcher  at 
which  time  it  was  found  empty.  Three  days  and  three 
nights  prior  to  this  time  would  bring  us  back  to  the  day 
that  Jesus  died  on  the  cross.  It  was  Wednesday,  Nisan 
the  20th,  April  the  13th.  "It  was  the  Preparation  of  the 
Passover,"  not  the  common  weekly  Sabbath.  The  Pass- 
over week  would  end  the  next  day,  Thursday,  Nisan  the 
21st,  the  seventh  day  of  the  Passover,  and  a  Sabbath  day 
on  which  no  servile  work  could  be  done  (Ex.  12:16).  It 
could  not  be  the  Preparation  for  the  first  Passover  feast, 
Thursday,  Nisan  the  14th,  for  Jesus  at  that  time  was  not 
arrested.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  Preparation  day  men- 
tioned by  Mark  15:42,  Luke  23:54,  and  John  19:14,  31,  42, 
refers  to  the  day  of  the  crucifixion  which  was  on  the 
fourth  day  of  the  following  week  and  the  sixth  day  after 
Jesus  ate  the  first  feast  of  the  Passover  with  the  twelve 
apostles. 

The  testimony  of  the  chosen  witnesses  of  Jesus  show 
that  he  was  not  crucified  on  Friday,  the  sixth  day  of  the 
week,  and  a  due  respect  for  the  words  of  our  Master  as 
to  the  time  he  would  lie  in  the  tomb  forbids  a  conclusion 
not  in  harmony  with  his  own  true  statement. 


129 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
THE  DEATH  AND  BURIAL  OF  JESUS. 

And  it  was  the  third  hour,  and  they  crucified 
him  (Mark  15:25). 

Then  were  there  two  thieves  crucified  with  him : 
one  on  the  right  hand,  and  another  on  the  left 
(Matt.  27:38). 

And  the  scripture  was  fulfilled  which  saith,  And 
he  was  numbered  with  the  transgressors  (Mark 
15:28). 

And  a  superscription  also  was  written  over  him 
in  letters  of  Greek,  and  Latin  and  Hebrew,  This 
is  the  King  of  the  Jews  (Luke  23:38). 

Then  the  soldiers  when  they  had  crucified  Jesus 
took  his  garments  and  made  four  parts,  to  every 
soldier  a  part;  and  also  his  coat:  now  the  coat 
was  without  seam,  woven  from  the  top  through- 
out (John  19:23). 

They  said  therefore  among  themselves,  Let  us 
not  rend  it,  but  cast  lots  for  it,  whose  it  shall  be : 
that  the  Scripture  might  be  fulfilled  which  saith, 
They  parted  my  raiment  among  them, 

And  for  my  vesture  they  did  cast  lots.  These 
things  therefore  the  soldiers  did  (John  19:24). 

And  they  that  passed  by  railed  on  him,  wagging 
their  heads,  and  saying,  Ah,  thou  that  destroyest 
the  temple,  and  buildest  it  in  three  days,  Save 
thyself,  and  come  down  from  the  cross  (Mark 
15:29,  30). 

And  they  compel  one  Simon  a  Cyrenian,  who 
passed  by,  coming  out  of  the  country,  the  father 
of  Alexander  and  Rufus,  to  bear  his  cross  (Mark 
15:21). 

And  one  of  the  malefactors  which  were  hanged 

130 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

railed  on  him,  saying,  If  thou  be  Christ,  save  thy- 
self and  us  (Luke  23:39). 

But  the  other  answering  rebuked  him,  saying, 
Dost  not  thou  fear  God,  seeing  thou  art  in  the 
same  condemnation?  (Luke  23:40). 

And  we  indeed  justly;  for  we  receive  the  due 
reward  of  our  deeds:  but  this  man  hath  done 
nothing  amiss  (Luke  23:41). 

And  he  said  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me 
when  thou  comest  in  thy  kingdom  (Luke  23:42). 

And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto 
thee,  Today  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise 
(Luke  23:43). 

"And  it  was  the  third  hour."  The  third  hour,  Jewish 
time,  would  be  our  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Mark 
alone  gives  the  hour  that  Jesus  was  nailed  to  the  cross. 

"Then  were  there  two  thieyes  crucified  with  him.5'    And 

the  scripture  was  fulfilled  which  saith,  "And  he  was  num- 
bered with  the  transgressors"  (Isaiah  53:12).  This  does 
not  mean  that  Jesus  was  a  transgressor  of  any  law,  but  that 
in  the  manner  of  his  death,  with  a  transgressor  on  either 
side,  he  dies  the  just  for  the  unjust  in  fulfillment  of  this 
prophecy,  spoken  seven  hundred  years  before. 

The  Superscription. 

The  title  or  superscription  over  Jesus,  "This  is  the  King 
of  the  Jews,"  according  to  Luke,  was  the  accusation  on 
which  Jesus  was  condemned  before  Pilate.  Luke  and  John 
say  it  was  written  in  letters  of  Greek  and  Latin  and  He- 
brew. This  was,  probably,  for  the  convenience  of  those 
present;  that  all  might  read  it  and  know  the  crime  for 
which  he  was  executed.  The  wording  of  the  title  seemed 
too  ironical  for  the  Jews;  and  the  chief  priests  asked 
Pilate  to  amend  it,  saying  "Write  not,  The  King  of  the 
Jews,  but  that  he  said,  I  am  the  King  of  the  Jews."  Jesus 
had  confessed  to  Pilate  that  he  was  the  King  of  the  Jews, 

131 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

and  he  answered,  "What  I  have  written,  I  have  written." 
But  you  denied  him,  and  forced  me  to  crucify  your  King 
and  I  will  not  recall  a  word  I  have  written.  Pilate's  in- 
scription is  the  immutable  word  of  the  Son  of  God.  Men 
may  think  and  write  as  they  please.  His  word  is  ever 
the  same. 

The  Soldiers  Divide  His  Garments. 

*'The  soldiers  took  his  garments  and  made  four  parts, 
to  every  soldier  a  part."  It  appears  from  this  statement 
of  John  that  there  were  only  four  soldiers  directly  con- 
cerned in  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus.  His  garments  consisted 
of  five  pieces;  therefore,  after  each  soldier  had  taken  a 
part,  one  garment  was  left.  Instead  of  rending  it,  they 
agreed  to  cast  lots,  whose  it  should  be.  The  coat  was  an 
undergarment,  without  seams,  woven  from  the  top  through- 
out. This  garment  probably  was  similar  to  that  worn  by 
the  high  priest  (Ex.  39:22,  23.  These  things  the  soldiers 
did,  that  the  scriptures  might  be  fulfilled,  "They  part  my 
garments  among  them,  and  cast  lots  upon  my  vesture" 
(Psalm  22:18). 

The  Mockery. 

"And  they  that  passed  by  railed  on  him,"  and,  "One 
Simon,  a  Cyrenian,  passed  by,  coming  in  from  the  coun- 
try." This  scripture  shows  that  the  people,  on  the  day 
of  the  crucifixion  were  going  about  attending  to  the  com- 
mon affairs  of  the  day  without  any  restraint.  The  mul- 
titude seemed  to  be  scattered  everywhere;  therefore,  it 
could  not  have  been  Friday,  Nisan  the  15th,  the  feast  day, 
for  on  that  day  there  was  a  holy  convocation,  an  assembly 
of  the  nation,  a  particular  day  of  rejoicing  and  making 
offering  to  the  Lord  (Lev.  23:6,  7,  8). 

Commentators  and  teachers  generally  charge  the  Jews 
with  all  manner  of  violation  of  the  law  during  Passion 
week,  yet  every  statement  on  the  Divine  record  shows 
their  careful  observance  of,  and  strong  declaration  against 

132 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

any  violation  of  the  law.  Notice  Matthew  26:5.  They 
would  not  arrest  him  on  the  feast  day.  "It  is  not  lawful 
to  put  them  (30  pieces  of  silver)  into  the  treasury."  Again, 
the  Jews  would  not  enter  Pilate's  "Judgment  hall"  lest 
they  should  be  defiled.  It  was  not  lawful  that  the  bodies 
should  remain  upon  the  cross  on  the  Sabbath  day;  and 
they  made  haste  to  have  them  taken  down  (John  19:31,  32). 

If  those  who  have  undertaken  to  solve  the  problems  of 
Passion  week  had  observed  the  law  and  the  gospel  nar- 
ratives as  closely  as  did  the  Jews  they  would  avoid  many 
perplexities,  and  reach  conclusions  in  harmony  therewith. 
However,  the  Jews  are  accused  while  the  Gentiles  of  today 
have  little  regard  for  the  law,  and  many  pervert  the  gospel 
to  suit  their  own  fanciful  imaginations.  And  when  they 
contend  for  the  arrest  and  crucifixion  on  Friday,  the  first 
day  of  the  feast,  they  would  violate  the  law  of  the  annual 
Sabbath,  and  ignore  the  sacred  truths  of  the  Bible,  and 
to  claim  Thursday,  Nisan  the  14th,  as  the  day  of  the  death 
of  our  Savior,  is  to  openly  deny  and,  without  reserve,  blot 
from  the  record  the  complete  statements  of  the  synoptic 
writers  of  what  Jesus  did  on  that  day. 

"They  railed  oil  him,"  saying,  "Ah,  thou  that  destroyest 
the  temple,  and  buildest  it  in  three  days."  At  the  time 
that  Jesus  drove  the  Jews  from  the  temple  they  asked  him 
to  show  them  a  sign  of  his  authority  for  doing  these  things. 
His  answer  was,  Destroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days  I 
will  raise  it  up.  This  claim  that  Jesus  made  was  as  true 
as  it  was  wonderful,  but  at  this  time  none  understood 
this  saying,  that  he  spake  of  the  temple  of  his  body.  "When 
therefore  he  was  risen  from  the  dead  his  disciples  remem- 
bered that  he  had  said  this  unto  them"  (John  2:18-23). 
Hanging  there  on  the  cross  he  appeared  to  the  Jews  to 
have  been  nothing  more  than  a  deceiver  or  pretender, 
Therefore  they  ridiculed  his  claims,  and  mocked  him,  say- 
ing, "Save  thyself,  and  come  down  from  the  cross.  He 
saved  others;  himself  he  cannot  save."  He  had  saved 

133 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

•others  from  temporary  death,  but  the  time  had  come,  when 
he  must  die  on  the  cross  that  the  world  through  him  might 
be  saved.  Not  yet,  but  very  near  is  the  time  when  the 
temple  which  was  being  destroyed  would  be  rebuilt  in 
three  days,  as  he  said,  and  by  the  power  of  his  resurrec- 
tion all  authority  in  heaven  and  on  earth  was  given  unto 
him. 

The  Two  Thieves  on  the  Cross. 

''And  one  of  the  malefactors  which  were  hanged,  railed 
on  him,  saying,  If  thou  be  Christ  save  thyself  and  us." 
Matt.  27:44  says:  "The  thieves  also  cast  the  same  in  his 
teeth,"  which  would  imply  that  both  reviled  him,  as  did 
the  chief  priests,  with  the  scribes  and  elders  (Matt. 
27:41-43). 

At  first  they  both  reviled  Him.  This  is  true.  Luke  re- 
cords the  rebuke  of  the  penitent  thief  which  is  omitted  by 
Matthew,  and  there  is  no  contradiction.  It  appears  that 
these  thieves  had  some  accurate  knowledge  of  the  power 
and  character  of  Jesus,  and  knew  that  he  was  not  guilty 
of  any  crime. 

They  believed  he  had  the  power  to  save  them;  but  it 
was  only  to  save  them  from  the  present  temporal  death 
upon  the  cross.  There  are  too  many  like  these  thieves 
who  never  call  upon  God  until  sickness  or  some  dire 
calamity  overtakes  them.  Then  they  cry  to  God  for  help, 
and  if  he  should  heed  their  appeal  for  mercy  and  restore 
them  to  health  they  would  soon  forget  their  promise,  and 
return  to  a  wicked  life,  as  these  criminals  might  have  done 
if  Jesus  had  saved  them  from  death.  After  hanging  awhile 
upon  the  cross,  the  thief,  who  Luke  says  mocked  Jesus, 
was  sharply  rebuked  by  the  other,  saying,  "Dost  not  thou 
fear  God?  You  should  not  taunt  or  ridicule  this  man  that 
has  done  no  wrong;  seeing  thou  art  in  the  same  condemna- 
tion." Like  him,  they  were  condemned  to  die  upon  the 
-cross.  Unlike  him  they  were  justly  punished  as  a  due 
reward  for  their  evil  deeds.  Jesus  had  done  nothing  amiss 

134 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

He  died  for  a  different  purpose.  He  died  to  put  away  sin 
by  the  sacrifice  of  himself. 

"Lord,  remember  me  when  thou  comest  into  thy  king- 
dom/' This  was  the  final  cry  of  the  penitent  thief  who 
no  longer  asked  to  be  delivered  from  a  temporal  death 
It  shows  that  he  was  not  without  hope  of  a  future  life, 
He  beheld  Jesus  dying  upon  the  cross,  but  with  a  faith 
stronger  than  any,  he  could  see  him  taking  up  his  life 
again,  having  the  power  and  authority  of  a  king.  It  is 
impossible  to  know  the  exact  idea  in  the  mind  of  this  rob- 
ber, as  to  the  character  of  the  kingdom  Jesus  would  estab- 
lish. Yet,  he  expressed  implied  faith  in  the  resurrection 
and  Lordship  of  Jesus. 

*Today."  The  prompt  answer  of  Jesus  to  the  prayer  of 
the  dying  thief  must  have  given  him  great  consolation,  for 
those  who  were  crucified  usually  hung  upon  the  cross  for 
several  days  before  death  came  to  their  relief.  Jesus  could 
foresee  the  length  of  time  they  would  be  upon  the  cross, 
and  made  no  mistake  when  he  answered  the  prayer  of  this 
robber. 

"Shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise."  The  sins  of  this 
repentant  man  Jesus  had  forgiven,  and  gave  him  assur- 
ance that  soon  he  would  be  with  him  in  paradise.  Through 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  his  heart  was  purified,  and  together 
with  his  Savior  he  was  prepared  to  enter  into  that  place 
of  happiness  beyond  this  life. 

The  sudden  call  of  this  criminal  for  mercy  has  led  many 
to  believe  in  a  similar  or  deathbed  repentance  as  all-suf- 
ficient for  their  salvation.  The  great  scheme  for  the  re- 
demption of  the  world  was  not  yet  completed.  But  the  Son 
of  Man  had  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins.  It  was  neces- 
sary that  Jesus  should  suffer  and  rise  again  from  the  dead 
on  the  third  day.  Then  he  opened  the  minds  of  the  apos- 
tles that  they  might  understand  the  scriptures  and  gave 
to  them  the  great  commission  containing  the  terms  of 
pardon  under  the  new  covenant. 

135 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.  He  that  believeth, 
and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved"  (Mark  16:15-16). 

In  this  Great  Commission,  salvation  or  remission  of  past 
sins  is  promised  only  to  baptized  believers.  The  commis- 
sion as  given  by  Mark  is  quoted  simply  for  the  serious  con- 
sideration of  many  who  say  that  baptism,  in  the  name  of 
Christ,  is  not  essential  to  the  remission  of  sin,  and  base 
their  contention  on  the  fact  that  the  thief  on  the  cross  was 
not  baptized.  And  why?  Because  he  died  under  the  old 
covenant,  and  before  these  very  last  commands  of  our 
Savior,  To  go,  and  teach,  and  baptize  in  his  name,  begin- 
ning at  Jerusalem,  were  given. 

If  it  were  possible  to  die  as  did  this  thief,  it  would  be 
preferable  to  living  a  life  of  disobedience  to  the  positive 
commands  of  our  Savior,  and  at  the  same  time  profess  that 
we  love  him. 

"Awake  to  righteousness  and  sin  not;  for  some. have 
not  the  knowledge  of  God:  I  speak  this  to  your  shame." 

"Blessed   are  they   that   do   his   commandments,"    etc. 

"And  hereby  we  know  that  we  know  him,  if  we  keep  his 
commandments." 

"He  that  saith  I  know  him,  and  keepeth  not  his  com- 
mandments, is  a  liar,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  him"  (I  John 
2:4). 

Darkness  Prevails — Jesus  Expires  on  the  Cross. 

Wednesday,  Nisan  20th,  April  13th,  After  3  P.  M. 

And  when  the  sixth  hour  was  come  there  was 
darkness  over  the  whole  land  until  the  ninth  hour 
(Mark  15:33). 

And  at  the  ninth  hour  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud 
voice,  saying,  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me?  (Mark  15:34). 

After  this,  Jesus  knowing  that  all  things  were 

136 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

now  accomplished,  that  the  scripture  might  be 
fulfilled,  saith,  I  thirst  (John  19:28). 

Now  there  was  set  a  vessel  full  of  vinegar,  and 
they  filled  a  sponge  with  vinegar,  and  put  it  upon 
hyssop,  and  put  it  to  his  mouth  (John  19:29). 

When  Jesus  therefore  had  received  the  vinegar, 
he  said,  It  is  finished :  and  he  bowed  his  head,  and 
gave  up  the  ghost  (John  19:30). 

fcAnd  when  the  sixth  hour  was  come."  The  sixth  hour, 
Jewish  time,  would  be  our  twelve  o'clock.  Their  day  was 
divided  into  twelve  hours,  beginning  the  count' at  sunrise. 

"Darkness  prevailed  until  the  ninth  hour."  For  three 
hours  from  twelve  until  three  o'clock  p.  m.  Luke  says,  "The 
sun  was  darkened."  Not  total  darkness,  probably  similar 
to  the  shadow  of  an  eclipse.  As  the  crucifixion  was  six 
days  after  the  full  moon,  an  eclipse  might  have  been  the 
cause  of  the  darkness.  If  not,  it  was  an  unaccountable 
phenomenon,  an  interposition  of  the  power  of  God,  bearing 
witness  to  the  character  of  his  Son  who  was  dying  upon 
the  cross. 

"And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  saith  the  Lord 
God,  that  I  will  cause  the  sun  to  go  down  at  noon,  and  I 
will  darken  the  earth  in  a  clear  day"  (Amos  8:9). 

"And  at  the  ninth  hour  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud  voice." 
This  shows  that  Jesus  was  alive  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  "My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?" 
Jesus  knowing  that  all  things  were  now  accomplished,  this 
cry  to  his  Father  was  but  the  notice  that  he  had  finished 
the  work  He  gave  him  to  do,  and  further  suffering  was  not 
required. 

"That  the  scriptures  might  be  fulfilled,  saith,  I  thirst."' 
The  fulfillment  of  the  scriptures  in  him  was  the  complete 
testimony  that  he  was  Christ,  the  Messiah,  which  was  to 
come  as  a  light  into  the  world.  "I  thirst"  And  they  filled 
a  sponge  with  vinegar,  and  put  it  upon  hyssop,  a  shrub, 

137 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

the  stem  of  which  Matthew  calls  a  reed,  and  put  it  to  his 
mouth.  "And  when  Jesus  had  received  it,  he  said,  It  is 
finished;  and  bowed  his  head  and  gave  up  the  ghost."  The 
prophecy  was  fulfilled:  "They  gave  me  also  gall  for  my 
meat;  and  in  my  thirst  they  gave  me  vinegar  to  drink" 
(Psa.  69:21).  In  the  death  of  the  Son  of  God,  the  scheme 
of  redemption  was  finished. 

The  Legs  of  the  Criminals  Are  Broken. 

The  Jews  therefore,  because  it  was  the  Prepar- 
ation, that  the  bodies  should  not  remain  on  the 
cross  on  the  Sabbath  day  (for  that  Sabbath  day 
was  an  high  day),  besought  Pilate  that  their  legs 
might  be  broken,  and  that  they  might  ha  taken 
away  (John  19:31). 

"Because  it  was  the  preparation  day."  It  was  Wednes- 
day, Nisan  the  twentieth,  a  work  day,  therefore  the  time 
to  make  every  preparation  required,  so  that  the  law  would 
not  in  any  manner  be  violated.  The  law  required  that  the 
bodies  of  those  who  were  put  to  death  and  hung  upon  a 
tree  should  be  taken  down  and  buried  the  same  day  (Deut. 
21:22-23). 

The  next  day,  Thursday,  was  the  annual  Sabbath,  a  high 
day,  the  last  great  day  of  Passover  Week,  and  the  Jews 
were  careful  to  see  that  there  should  be  no  desecration  of 
the  laws  of  the  Sabbath.  It  was  known  to  them,  that  in 
death  by  crucifixion,  life  would  be  prolonged  several  days; 
therefore,  the  Jews  asked  Pilate  to  have  their  legs  broken, 
that  they  might  be  taken  away.  This  would  greatly  in- 
crease their  suffering,  but  it  would  hasten  their  death. 

"Then  came  the  soldiers,  and  broke  the  legs  of  the  first, 
and  of  the  other  which  was  crucified  with  him"  (John 
19:32). 


138 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"But  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  and  saw  that  he  was  dead 
^already,  they  brake  not  his  legs"  (John  19:33). 

"For  these  things  were  done,  that  the  scripture  should 
be  fulfilled,  A  bone  of  him  shall  not  be  broken."  The 
Passover  lamb  was  a  type  of  Christ  (Numbers  9:12). 

"He  keepeth  all  his  bones;  not  one  of  them  is  broken" 
(Psa.  34:20). 

The  Pierced  Side. 

But  one  of  the  soldiers  with  a  spear  pierced  his 
.side,  and  forthwith  came  there  out  blood  and 
water  (John  19:34). 

And  he  that  saw  bare  record,  and  his  record  is 
true;  and  he  knoweth  that  he  is  speaking  the 
truth,  that  ye  might  believe  (John  19:35). 

And  again  another  Scripture  saith,  They  shall 
look  on  him  whom  they  have  pierced. 

"One  of  the  soldiers."  One  of  the  soldiers  who  had  taken 
part  in  the  crucifixion,  and  was  watching  the  bodies  until 
they  were  dead.  As  they  had  not  broken  his  legs,  this 
soldier  with  his  spear  pierced  his  side.  They  had  decided 
that  he  was  already  dead,  and  the  motive  that  prompted 
the  cruel  act  is  unknown,  but  it  was  done  that  the  scrip- 
ture should  be  fulfilled  (Psa,  22:16,  Zech.  12:10).  This 
scripture  points  to  Jesus  on  the  cross.  His  pierced  body 
Jbore  testimony  to  doubting  apostles  after  his  resurrection 
(Luke  24:38-44).  And  John  (Rev.  1:7)  says,  "Behold  he 
.cometh  with  clouds;  every  eye  shall  see  him,  and  they  also 
which  pierced  him."  John  saw,  and  bare  record  of  the 
fulfillment  of  this  prophecy,  and  declares  that  he  is  speak- 
ing the  truth  that  we  all  might  believe.  Even  the  enemies 
-of  Jesus  by  their  own  actions  in  condemning  him,  and  put- 
ting him  to  death,  unconsciously  stamped  the  seal  of  truth 
on  his  divinity. 

139 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

The  Vail  of  the  Temple  and  the  Earthquake. 

And,  behold,  the  vail  of  the  temple  was  rent  in 
twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom ;  and  the  earth 
did  quake,  and  the  rocks  rent  (Matt.  27:51). 

And  the  graves  were  opened;  and  many  bodies 
of  the  saints  which  slept  arose  (Matt.  27:52). 

And  came  out  of  the  graves  after  his  resurrec- 
tion, and  went  into  the  holy  city,  and  appeared 
unto  many  (Matt.  27:53). 

Now  when  the  centurion  and  they  that  were 
with  him,  watching  Jesus,  saw  the  earthquake 
and  those  things  that  were  done,  they  feared 
greatly  saying,  Truly  this  was  the  Son  of  God 
(Matt.  27.54). 

And  all  the  people  that  came  together  to  that 
sight,  beholding  the  things  which  were  done, 
smote  their  breasts  and  returned  (Luke  23:48). 

And  all  his  acquaintance,  and  the  women  that 
followed  him  from  Galilee,  stood  afar  off,  behold- 
ing these  things  (Luke  23:49). 

"The  vail  of  the  temple."  This  vail  separated  the  holy, 
from  the  most  holy  place.  The  purpose  of  the  miraculous 
rending  of  this  vail  is  not  stated,  and  where  the  scriptures 
are  silent  an  opinion  would  be  worthless.  Matthew  only 
records  this  earthquake  at  the  time  of  our  Savior's  death; 
also,  another,  three  days  later,  when  he  arose  from  the 
tomb.  By  a  careful  study  of  verses  52  and  53,  it  will  be 
seen  that  they  are  misplaced.  That  they  refer  to  events 
after  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord;  therefore,  should  be 
placed  after  Matthew  28:2. 

"The  centurion  and  they  that  were  with  him  watching 
Jesus  saw  the  earthquake  and  those  things  that  were  done, 
feared  greatly."  At  the  things  that  were  done,  already 
past.  They  heard  the  cry  from  the  cross,  "My  God,  my  God, 
why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?  And  when  the  centurion 

140 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

saw  that  he  so  cried  out  and  gave  up  the  ghost,  he  said, 
Truly  this  was  a  Son  of  God"  (Mark  15:39).  They  had 
probably  heard  of  his  confession  before  the  Sanhedrim, 
or  Pilate,  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  they  regarded 
these  wonderful  events,  as  showing  His  anger,  because 
they  had  crucified  His  Son.  And  they  feared  greatly  that 
punishment  for  the  evil  deed  was  about  to  come  upon  them. 

"Beholding  the  things  which  were  done."  The  three 
hours  darkness,  the  earthquake  and  the  suffering  scenes  of 
the  cross. 

"Smote  their  breasts."  The  great  multitude  that  came 
together  at  that  sight  were  not  the  enemies  of  Jesus.  They 
were  so  sadly  impressed  at  what  they  beheld  that  their 
sympathetic  minds  were  in  a  state  of  suspense,  and  they 
could  find  no  words  to  express  their  sorrow  nor  fear. 
And  they  smote  their  breasts,  and  returned. 

*'Stoo(l  afar  off  and  beheld  these  things."  His  acquain- 
tances and  the  women  that  followed  him,  beheld  the  same 
events  as  did  the  soldiers  and  all  the  people.  The  events 
recited  in  verses  fifty-two  and  fifty-three  occurred  at  the 
time  of  the  resurrection,  an  event  which  no  man  beheld. 

Taken  Down  from  the  Cross  and  Laid  in  the  Tomb. 

When  the  even  was  come,  there  came  a  rich 
man  of  Arimathea,  named  Joseph,  who  was  also 
Jesus'  disciple  (Matt.  27:57). 

He  went  to  Pilate  and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus 
(Matt.  27:58). 

And  Pilate  marvelled  if  he  were  already  dead, 
and  calling  the  centurion  he  asked  him  whether 
he  had  been  any  while  dead  (Mark  15:44). 

And  when  he  knew  it  of  the  centurion,  he  gave 
the  body  to  Joseph  (Mark  15:45). 

And  there  came  also  Nicodemus,  and  brought  a 
mixture  of  myrrh  and  aloes,  about  a  hundred 
pound  weight  (John  19:39). 

141 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

And  he  took  it  down  and  wrapped  it  in  linen,, 
and  laid  it  in  a  sepulchre  that  was  hewn  in  stone, 
wherein  never  man  before  was  laid  (Luke  23:53). 

And  he  rolled  a  great  stone  to  the  door  of  the 
sepulchre  and  departed  (Matt.  27:60). 

And  that  day  was  the  Preparation,  and  the 
Sabbath  drew  on  (Luke  23:54). 

"When  the  even  was  come."  That  is  after  3  p.  m.  There 
came  a  rich  man,  named  Joseph  of  Arimathea.  There  were 
many  persons  of  this  name,  and  to  identify  him,  the  place 
of  residence  is  mentioned.  It  is  also  said  that  he  was  a 
rich  man;  which  is  a  fulfillment  of  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah 
(53:9),  "He  made  his  grave  with  the  rich  in  his  death." 

"He  went  to  Pilate  and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus." 
Joseph  went  to  Pilate  because  he  had  control  of  the  dis- 
position of  the  body,  and  besides,  he  was  a  disciple  of 
Jesus  and  desired  to  give  the  body  a  decent  burial  and 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  Jews. 

"And  Pilate  marveled  if  he  were  already  dead."  From 
this  it  is  inferred  that  the  Jews  had  not  yet  besought  Pilate 
that  their  legs  might  be  broken  as  death  would  soon  have 
followed.  Otherwise,  life  would  be  prolonged  several  days; 
therefore,  Pilate  was  surprised  when  Joseph  asked  for  the 
body,  and  would  not  give  it  to  him,  until  he  called  the 
centurion,  and  asked  him  whether  he  had  been  any  while 
dead.  Jesus  had  been  dead  for  some  time;  long  enough 
that  he,  as  an  officer,  could  make  a  report  of  his  death 
with  certainty.  And  when  he  knew  it  of  the  centurion,  he 
gave  the  body  to  Joseph.  This  testimony  given  only  by 
Mark  is  important.  It  is  the  official  proof  of  his  death 
from  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  execution. 

"And  then  came  also  Nicodemus.  The  same  that  came 
to  Jesus  by  night.  He  was  ruler  of  the  Jews."  Soon  after 
Jesus  began  his  ministry  he  attended  the  Passover  at 
Jerusalem  where  Nicodemus  saw  the  miracles  he  did.  And 

142 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

from  that  time  he  believed  that  Jesus  was  a  teacher  come 
from  God. 

He  showed  his  friendship  and  love  for  him  to  the  day 
of  his  death  and  burial.  Only  John  mentions  that  Nico- 
demus  aided  in  the  burial  of  Jesus. 

"Brought  a  mixture  of  myrrh  and  aloes,  about  a  hundred 
pound  weight."  Aloes,  an  evergreen  herb.  Myrrh,  a  gum 
or  resin  used  for  its  odor. 

"Then  they  took  the  body  of  Jesus  and  wound  it  in  linen 
cloths  with  the  spices  as  the  manner  of  the  Jews  is  to 
bury"  (John  19:40). 

"And  laid  it  in  his  own  new  tomb"  (Matthew).  "That 
was  hewn  in  stone,  wherein  never  man  before  was  laid" 
(Luke).  It  was  a  new  tomb,  and  Luke  and  John  inform 
us  that  no  man  had  ever  before  laid  therein,  while  Joseph 
and  Nicodemus  knew  wrhose  body  they  placed  in  the  tomb; 
therefore,  there  could  be  no  suspicion  of  his  identity  when 
he  arose. 

"And  he  rolled  a  great  stone  to  the  door  of  the  sepul- 
chre and  departed."  When  they  departed  from  the  sepul- 
chre, their  hopes  in  this  prophet  mighty  in  deeds  and 
words  were  shattered,  buried  in  the  tomb  of  Joseph  of 
Arimathea.  Although  he  had  frequently  spoken  of  his  res- 
urrection, there  were  none  who  believed  or  expected  that 
after  three  nights  and  three  days  that  great  stone  would 
be  rolled  from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre  as  it  was,  and  that 
Jesus  would  come  forth  alive  again,  thus  showing  do- 
minion over  death,  power  to  lay  down  his  life,  and  power 
to  take  it  up  again. 

"And  that  day  was  the  preparation."  It  was  Wednes- 
day, Nisan  the  20th,  April  13th,  the  day  before  the  annual 
Sabbath.  On  this  day  all  the  necessary  preparations  must 
be  made  for  the  feast  Sabbath  day,  as  no  servile  work  could 
be  done  on  that  day. 

"And  the  Sabbath  drew  on."  The  Sabbath  begun  at 
sunset.  And  before  Joseph  and  Nicodemus  had  rolled  the 

US 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

stone  to  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  the  Sabbath  drew  on, — 
was  progressing, — beginning. 

"And  day  was  preparation  and  Sabbath  was  beginning," 
is  the  literal  translation.  The  articles  are  omitted  in  the 
original. 

This  scripture  is  destructive  to  the  theory  of  the  Friday 
crucifixionists,  who  would  crowd  the  events  of  an  entire 
week  into  less  than  thirty-eight  hours'  time.  In  this  vain 
endeavor  they  would  claim  that  the  burial  of  Jesus  was 
completed  before  the  Sabbath  drew  on,  that  the  count  of 
one  day  might  be  added  in  support  of  a  theory  which  can- 
not be  harmonized  with  the  facts  of  the  scriptures.  Try, 
try  again.  Is  it  possible  to  have  three  days  and  three 
nights  with  thirty-eight  hours'  time?  The  efforts  of  a 
deluded  mind  are  useless.  According  to  Luke  23:54,  Jesus 
was  buried  as  late  as  sunset  at  which  time  the  day  ended; 
therefore,  there  could  not  be  any  part  of  a  precedent  day 
to  count.  The  day  was  past,  and  the  night  was  beginning 
when  the  great  stone  was  rolled  to  the  door  of  the  sepul- 
chre; and  the  count  for  another  day  would  not  begin  till 
sunrise  the  next  morning;  however,  the  first  night  to  be 
counted  was  beginning.  Did  Jesus  tell  the  truth  when  he 
said  the  Son  of  Man  would  be  three  days  and  three  nights 
in  the  heart  of  the  earth?  "And  because  I  tell  the  truth,  ye 
believe  not.  Why  do  ye  not  understand  my  speech?" 


144 


THE  MASTER  KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
THE  GUARD  AT  THE  SEPULCHRE. 

Matthew  27:62-66. 

62.  Now  the  next  day  (R.  V.,  now  on  the  mor- 
row), that  followed  the  day  of  the  preparation, 
the   chief  priests  and   Pharisees   came   together 
unto  Pilate, 

63.  Saying,  Sir,  we  remember  that  that  de- 
ceiver said,  while  he  was  yet  alive,  After  three 
days  I  will  rise  again. 

64.  Command  therefore  that  the  sepulchre  be 
made  sure  until  the  third  day,  lest  his  disciples 
come  by  night,  and  steal  him  away  and  say  unto 
the  people,  He  is  risen  from  the  dead:  so  the  last 
error  shall  be  worse  than  the  first. 

65.  Pilate  said  unto  them,  Ye  have  a  watch; 
go  your  way,  make  it  as  sure  as  ye  can. 

66.  So  they  went,  and  made  the  sepulchre  sure, 
sealing  the  stone,  and  setting  a  watch. 

"Now  the  next  day  that  followed  the  day  of  preparation." 

The  next  day  was  the  annual  Sabbath, — Thursday,  Nisan 
the  twenty-first,  the  last  great  day  of  the  feast.  Many 
learned  commentators  do  not  agree,  as  to  the  meaning  of 
the  next  day.  A  little  child  understands  this  term.  "After 
the  next  day  had  commenced,  or  after  sundown"  (Barnes). 
Barnes  it  seems  would  not  count  nights.  "A  little  before 
it  was  dark  in  the  evening,  called  the  next  day  that  fol- 
lowed" (Fleetwood).  "On  the  next  day,  therefore,  on  the 
Sabbath"  (Keim).  "Now  on  the  morrow,  leads  us  rather 
to  think  of  the  morning  after"  (Andrews).  Like  many 
others,  these  expositors  all  contend  for  a  Friday  crucifix- 
ion. If  this  was  true,  and  Friday  night  is  called  the  next 
day,  we  would  eliminate  the  counting  of  the  only  night 

145 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

that  Jesus  would  be  in  the  tomb.  Such  reasoning  is  arbi- 
trary and  not  in  accord  with  the  scriptures. 

But  some  say,  "This  is  the  Jewish  way  of  speaking  of 
the  next  day."  Let  us  see  if  these  things  are  exactly  so. 
Ex.  12:6,  "And  ye  shall  keep  it  up  until  fourteenth  day, 
and  shall  kill  it  in  the  evening."  The  fourteenth  day  ended 
at  sunset,  and  in  the  eighth  verse,  the  following  night,  is 
not  called  the  next  day.  The  events  of  the  last  Passover 
week  have  been  considered  according  to  the  writings  of 
Moses,  and  the  gospel  record  of  the  division  of  the  day 
and  the  night,  as  expressed  by  the  Savior  and  the  evan- 
gelistic writers.  "And  God  called  the  light  Day,  and  the 
darkness  he  called  Night"  (Gen.  1:5).  In  the  time  of  our 
Savior,  the  night  was  divided  into  watches,  and  the  day  into 
hours.  "Are  there  not  twelve  hours  in  a  day?"  (John 
11:9). 

The  weekly  Sabbath, — Saturday, — and  the  annual  or 
feast  Sabbaths,  were  celebrated  "from  evening  to  even- 
ing." This  period  of  time  included  the  night,  which  pre- 
ceded the  day.  This  is  according  to  the  scripture,  and  will 
be  more  easily  understood  than  to  refer  to  the  night  as 
the  "first  half"  of  the  day,  or  to  include  it  in  the  next  day. 
The  day  and  the  night  must  be  considered  as  distinct 
periods  of  time  in  order  to  correctly  solve  the  problems 
of  Passion  week,  and  explain  the  number  of  days  and 
nights,  three  days,  three  nights,  that  Jesus  said  he  would 
be  in  the  tomb. 

Jesus  had  been  in  the  sepulchre  one  night,  Wednesday, 
and  the  next  day,  Thursday,  when  an  assembly  of  the 
chief  priests  and  Pharisees  went  to  Pilate  and  asked  for  a 
guard  to  watch  the  tomb  until  the  third  day.  The  third 
day  would  end  Saturday  at  sunset. 

Although  Jesus  was  dead  and  buried,  yet  the  minds  of 
his  enemies  were  disturbed.  They  knew  something  of  his 
power  and  wonderful  works  among  men  while  on  earth. 
It  is  possible  that  they  had  knowledge  of  the  resurrection 

146 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

of  Lazarus,  and  might  not  he,  himself,  arise?  Also,  he 
told  certain  of  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  that  in  him,  the 
sign  of  the  Prophet  Jonah  would  be  fulfilled  (Matt.  12:40). 

"We  remember  that  that  deceiver  said  while  he  was  yet 
alive,  After  three  days  I  will  arise  again.  Command  there- 
fore that  the  sepulchre  be  made  sure  until  the  third  day, 
lest  his  disciples  come  by  night  and  steal  him  away,  and 
say  unto  the  people,  He  is  risen  from  the  dead;  so  the 
last  error  shall  be  worse  than  the  first." 

These  were  the  reasons  given  to  Pilate  when  the  request 
was  made  for  a  guard  to  watch  the  tomb  (not  for  three 
days),  but  "until  the  third  day."  The  guards  were  placed 
at  the  tomb  on  Thursday.  Therefore,  there  would  be  two 
more  nights  and  days  before  the  expiration  of  the  third 
day.  Now,  if  Jesus  was  crucified  on  Friday,  the  guard 
would  have  been  placed  at  the  tomb  on  Saturday.  Jesus 
arose  from  the  tomb  at  the  end  of  the  Sabbath, — Saturday 
evening.  Pray  tell  us  how  many  nights  would  the  soldiers 
have  been  on  guard,  before  Saturday  evening,  the  end  of 
the  third  day?  Or  on  what  night,  before  the  resurrection, 
could  the  soldiers  have  slept  at  the  tomb,  while  his  dis- 
ciples stole  him  away?  None.  And  at  that  time  it  would 
have  been  an  unbelievable  story.  It  is  as  unreasonable 
and  incredible  now,  but  place  the  guard  at  the  tomb  the 
"next  day  after  the  Preparation", — Thursday, — and  accept 
the  statement  of  Jesus  as  true;  that  he  would  be  three 
days  and  three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the  earth,  and  the 
plausibility  of  the  story  of  the  theft  of  the  body  by  night 
would  have  a  possible  foundation. 

"The  deceiver  said."  The  chief  priests  and  the  Phari- 
sees were  taking  precautionary  measures  that  the  last 
error  should  not  be  worse  than  the  first.  Jesus,  standing 
before  the  Sanhedrim,  confessed  that  he  was  the  Son  of 
God;  therefore,  he  was  condemned  as  a  blasphemer.  They 
accused  him  before  Pilate  of  saying  that  he  himself  was 
Christ,  a  king,  and  when  Pilate  asked  him  if  he  was  a 

147 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

king,  Jesus  answered,  "Thou  sayest  that  I  am."  Moreover, 
he  said  that  after  three  days  he  would  rise  again.  To 
these  dignitaries  such  claims  were  unreasonable,  and  now 
that  he  was  dead  and  buried  they  supposed  that  his  true 
character  was  revealed.  To  them,  he  was  a  pretender  and 
a  deceiver  of  the  people,  which  his  enemies  classed  as 
the  first  error.  But  after  his  resurrection  every  vestige 
of  proof  was  removed,  and  they  had  to  invent  another. 
story, — the  theft  of  his  body  by  night, — which  proves  the 
impossibility  of  a  Friday  crucifixion. 

"Xest  his  disciples  come  by  night  and  steal  him  away." 
The  stealing  of  the  body  of  Jesus  seems  to  have  been  a  pre- 
text rather  than  the  chief  reason  for  wanting  a  guard 
placed  at  the  tomb.  Their  request,  "Till  the  third  day," 
is  significant.  His  enemies  feared  that  his  declaration  as 
to  the  time  he  would  be  in  the  tomb  might  be  fulfilled; 
hence,  the  guard  till  the  third  day.  If  his  disciples  pur- 
posed  to  steal  his  t>ody  they  would  not  make  the  attempt 
while  the  soldiers  were  guarding  the  tomb.  If,  till  tho 
third  day,  was  all  the  time  his  enemies  required  the  watch, 
it  is  evident  that  they  had  little  fear  of  his  disciples  tak- 
ing him  away.  However,  at  the  end  of  the  third  day  the 
chief  obstacle  would  be  removed  and  the  theft  of  the  body 
might  be  accomplished  thereafter.  Jesus  had  frequently 
told  his  disciples  that  he  would  rise  from  the  dead  the 
third  day,  but,  in  the  loss  of  their  Master  their  hopes  were 
gone,  and  all  Ms  precious  promises  were  forgotten. 

"And  say  nnto  the  people,  he  is  risen  from  the  dead." 
For  the  disciples  to  have  stolen  him  away  and  reported 
that  he  was  risen  from  the  dead,  would  have  been,  to  these 
Jewish  dignitaries,  the  last  error,  which  they  said  would 
be  worse  than  the  first.  Blind  unbelief  is  sure  to  err. 
Ere  long  it  will  be  known  who  are  the  deceived  and  the 
deceivers  of  the  people.  Living  truths  are  no  deception, 
and  when  Jesus  arose  from  the  dead,  it  was  a  demon- 
stration of  that  great  truth  for  which  he  gave  up  his  life: 
that  he  was  the  Son  of  God. 

148 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"So  they  went  and  made  the  sepulchre  sure,  sealing  the 
stone,  and  setting-  a  watch."  This  was  the  climax  of  the 
efforts  of  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees,  to  effectually 
close  the  prison  bars  against  the  Son  of  God  until  the 
third  day.  Jesus  had  said  unto  some  of  the  Pharisees  that 
he  laid  down  his  life  that  he  might  take  it  again;  there- 
fore, it  was  a  test  of  the  human  against  the  Divine,  but 
the  pride  of  their  power  will  soon  be  broken,  and  their 
strength  spent  in  vain. 

The  efforts  they  made  to  show  that  Jesus  was  not  what 
he  claimed  to  be,  and  that  his  teaching  was  false,  proved 
to  be  the  strongest  evidence  of  his  divinity,  and  the  resur- 
rection which  they  were  trying  to  disprove  they  con- 
firmed beyond  a  doubt. 


149 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

SPICES  GATHERED. 

Friday,   Nisan   22nd. 

And  when  the  Sabbath  was  past,  Mary  Magda- 
lene, and  Mary  the  mother  of  James,  and  Salome, 
bought  spices  that  they  might  come  and  anoint 
him  (Mark  16:1). 

And  they  returned,  and  prepared  spices  and 
ointments;  and  rested  the  Sabbath  day,  accord- 
ing to  the  commandment  (Luke  23:56). 


It  is  claimed  by  some  that  "the  gospels  call  for  a  double 
Sabbath  between  the  death  and  resurrection  of  our  Lord/* 
The  double  Sabbath  referred  to,  fell  on  Friday  and  Sat- 
urday, Nisan  the  15th  and  16th,  which  was  before  the  be- 
trayal and  arrest.  The  gospels  call  for  an  intervening 
work  day,  on  which  the  women  prepared  the  spices;  for  it 
is  definitely  shown  by  the  scriptures  that  the  women  did 
not  gather  the  spices,  and  make  other  preparations  on  a 
Sabbath  day.  If  so  the  event  as  narrated  by  Mark  and 
Luke  would  not  be  true.  Between  the  death  and  resurrec- 
tion of  Jesus,  the  gospels  demand  three  days,  Thursday, 
Nisan  the  21st, — the  last  Passover  Sabbath,  being  the 
first.  After  this  Sabbath  Thursday,  was  past,  Mark  says 
the  women  bought  the  spices  which  was  on  Friday,  Nisan 
the  22nd,  April  15th,  a  work  day.  Saturday,  the  third  day, 
was  the  weekly  Sabbath,  and  when  Luke  says  the  women 
returned  and  prepared  spices  and  ointment,  and  "on  the 
Sabbath  day  they  rested,  according  to  the  commandment," 
he  means  that  they  prepared  the  spices  and  ointments  on 
Friday,  and  rested  over  Saturday,  the  Sabbath  day.  Hence, 
according  to  the  scriptures,  the  two  Sabbath  days,  Thurs- 
day and  Saturday,  with  the  work  day,  Friday,  between, 
establishes  complete  harmony, 'while  Mark  and  Luke  cor- 

150 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

roborate  the  story  of  Jonah,  as  recorded  by  Matthew  and 
confirmed  by  the  Savior  himself.  And  this  scripture  being 
true,  bears  witness  to  the  impossibility  of  a  Friday  cruci- 
fixion. 

These  apparently  contradictory  statements  come  down 
to  us  for  a  needful  purpose.  Luke's  statement  forces  us 
to  Friday,  while  Mark's  account,  "When  the  (annual) 
Sabbath  (Thursday)  was  past,"  compels  the  acceptance  of 
Friday  as  the  day  the  spices  were  gathered;  thereby  elim- 
inating that  day  from  further  consideration  as  the  day  of 
the  crucifixion. 


151 


THE  MASTER  KEY. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
THE  RESURRECTION. 

Saturday  evening  at  Sunset,  April  16th. 

In  the  end  of  the  Sabbath,  as  it  began  to  dawn 
toward  the  first  day  of  the  week,  came  Mary  Mag- 
dalene, and  the  other  Mary,  to  see  the  sepulchre 
(Matt.  28:1). 

And  behold  there  was  a  great  earthquake 
(Matt.  28:2).  And  the  earth  did  quake,  and  the 
rocks  rent  (Matt.  27:51). 

And  the  graves  were  opened;  and  many  bodies 
of  the  saints  which  slept  arose  (Matt.  27:52). 

And  came  out  of  the  graves  after  his  resurrec- 
tion, and  went  into  the  holy  city,  and  appeared 
unto  many  (Matt.  27:53).  For  an  angel  of  the 
Lord  descended  from  heaven,  and  came  and  rolled 
away  the  stone  and  sat  upon  it  (Matt.  28:2). 

His  appearance  was  as  lightning,  and  his  rai- 
ment white  as  snow  (Matt.  28:3). 

And  for  fear  of  him  the  watchers  did  quake,  and 
became  as  dead  men  (Matt.  28:4). 

And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto  the 
women,  Fear  not  ye;  for  I  know  that  ye  seek 
Jesus,  which  hath  been  crucified  (Matt.  28:5). 

He  is  not  here,  for  he  is  risen,  even  as  he  said. 
Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay  (Matt. 
28:6). 

And  go  quickly  and  tell  his  disciples,  He  is  risen 
from  the  dead :  and  behold,  he  goeth  before  you 
into  Galilee ;  there  shall  ye  see  him :  lo,  I  have  told 
you  (Matt.  28:7). 

Now  when  Jesus  was  risen  early  the  first  (day) 
of  the  week,  he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Magdalene, 
out  of  whom  he  had  cast  seven  demons  (Mark 
16:9). 

152 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

And  she  went  and  told  them  that  had  been  with 
him,  as  they  mourned  and  wept  (Mark  16:10). 

And  they,  when  they  heard  that  he  was  alive, 
and  had  been  seen  of  her,  believed  not  (Mark 
16:11). 

Matthew  in  his  testimony  as  to  the  time  of  the  visit 
of  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary  to  see  the  sepul- 
chre, declares  it  was  "In  the  end  of  the  Sabbath."  The 
Sabbath  ended  at  sunset  Saturday.  "As  it  began  to  dawn 
toward  the  first  day  of  the  week."  When  did  the  first,  or 
first  day  of  the  week  begin?  It  began  at  sunset,  Saturday 
evening  at  the  end  of  the  Sabbath.  "The  word  dawn  is 
not  of  necessity  in  the  original"  (Barnes).  Besides,  the 
word  day  is  supplied:  is  not  in  the  original  text.  "It  is, 
however,  difficult  that  the  Greek  can  mean  anything  else 
than  either,  as  the  Sabbath  ended,  or  when  it  had  ended" 
(Allen).  Matthew  28:1  can  have  no  other  meaning;  and 
when  correctly  translated,  reads,  "In  the  evening  of  the 
Sabbath,"  or,  "In  the  end  of  the  Sabbath  as  the  first  day 
of  the  week  was  beginning"  (Clark  Braden). 

It  is  generally  assumed  that  Jesus  arose  Sunday  morn- 
ing, and  the  women  made  no  visit  to  the  sepulchre  before 
that  time.  If  that  was  true  Matthew  contradicts  himself 
for  he  testifies  that  it  was  in  the  end  of  the  Sabbath — 
sunset — Saturday  evening;  also,  at  this  time  the  first  day 
of  the  week  begun.  Moreover,  an  inspired  writer  would 
not  make  such  an  unreasonable  and  contradictory  state- 
ment concerning  an  event  that  Mary  Magdalene  and  the 
other  Mary  came  to  see  the  sepulchre  Saturday  evening 
as  the  sun  was  rising  Sunday  morning.  It  seems  that 
such  an  interpretation  of  the  original  text  only  could  have 
been  made  with  a  view  of  maintaining  the  old  theory 
that  Jesus  arose  from  the  grave  on  Sunday  morning,  a 
verdict  without  a  shadow  of  support  from  the  scriptures. 

It  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  feast-Sabbath,  Wednes- 

153 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

<lay  evening,  April  13th,  that  Jesus  was  laid  in  the  tomb 
of  the  rich  man.  Three  nights  and  three  days  have  elapsed 
since  the  great  stone  was  rolled  to  the  door  of  the  sepul- 
chre and  sealed,  and  the  watch  placed.  Hence,  Jesus  had 
lain  in  the  tomb  on  two  Sabbath  days, — Thursday,  Nisan 
the  21st,  the  feast  Sabbath  day,  Friday  a  work  day,  on 
which  spices  were  gathered,  and  Saturday,  the  weekly 
Sabbath.  Jesus  was  not  in  the  tomb  on  the  weekly  Sab- 
bath,— Saturday  of  Passover  week.  At  this  time  he  was 
not  yet  arrested,  but  with  his  disciples  he  remained  in  the 
upper  room  where  he  instituted  the  Lord's  Supper  on  the 
first  night  of  the  week.  He  arose  from  the  dead  at  the 
end  of  the  next  Sabbath,  as  the  first  night  of  the  week  was 
beginning.  At  the  end  of  this  Sabbath,  an  angel  of  the 
Lord  descended  from  heaven,  and  came  and  rolled  away 
the  stone,  and  sat  upon  it.  Then  it  was  that  the  bars  of 
death  were  broken,  and  Jesus  rose  triumphant  from  the 
grave.  Jesus  foretold  the  truth  that  he  would  be  three 
days  and  three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the  earth.  And  the 
angel  that  rolled  away  the  stone,  testified  to  Mary  Magda- 
lene and  the  other  Mary: — "He  is  risen,  even  as  he  said." 
"And  because  I  tell  you  the  truth,  ye  believe  not."  "Why 
do  you  not  understand  my  speech?" 

On  the  subject  of  his  resurrection  the  popular  teaching 
of  Christendom  is  not  in  harmony  with  his  words.  It  is 
also  evident  that  Paul's  words  to  Timothy  have  long  been 
true:  "They  have  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  truth,  and  give 
their  attention  to  legends  instead."  Besides,  the  sacred 
writers  must  have  recorded  the  truth;  for  they  were  not 
capable  of  inventing  what  they  wrote.  If  careful  attention 
is  given  to  the  study  of  the  sacred  narrative  concerning 
the  time  of  the  resurrection,  it  will  readily  appear  that 
it  occurred  in  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath,  Saturday  even- 
ing, as  the  first  of  the  week  was  beginning  and  not  on 
Sunday  morning. 

"Came  Mary   of  Magdala  and   other  Mary,  to   see   the 

154 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

We  learn  from  the  different  accounts  of  the 
•evangelists  that  thejre  were  three  visits  of  women  to  the 
•sepulchre,  and  that  their  visits  and  arrival  at  the  tomb 
were  at  different  times,  and  separate  and  apart  from  each 
other,  and  must  be  so  considered  if  a  reasonable  harmony 
is  secured. 

First,  two  women,  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary, 
on  Saturday  evening  after  sunset  (Matt.  28:1). 

Second,  Mary  Magdalene  alone  arrived  at  the  sepulchre, 
early  Sunday  morning,  "while  it  was  yet  dark"  (John 
-20:1). 

Third,  Mary  the  mother  of  James,  and  Salome  and  Jo- 
ianna;  Sunday  morning  "at  the  rising  of  the  sun";  an  hour 
.after  the  arrival  of  Mary  Magdalene  (Mark  16:1-2). 

Soon  after  the  resurrection  at  the  end  of  the  Sabbath, 
.the  two  Marys  went  to  see  the  sepulchre.  If  the  teacher  in 
the  Bible  school  would  ask  the  class,  at  what  time,  and  for 
what  purpose  did  these  women  go  to  the  sepulchre,  the 
.answer,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  would  be:  "On  Sunday 
morning,  to  anoint  his  body."  And  Matthew  says  nothing 
whatever  about  the  anointing  of  the  body,  or  the  gathering 
of  spices  for  that  purpose,  nor  the  visit  to  the  tomb  early 
Sunday  morning,  which  shows  how  careless  we  read  the 
word  of  God. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  Matthew  alone  gives  an  account  of  the 
resurrection,  and  the  events  connected  therewith.  Not  a 
single  thing  recorded  by  Matthew  is  mentioned  by  the 
other  evangelists,  except  Mark  (16:9)  who  confirms  the 
-first  appearance  of  Jesus  to  Mary  Magdalene.  Search  the 
scriptures  and  see  if  these  things  are  so,  that  the  truth 
may  triumph  over  the  old  fables  that  have  crept  in  un- 
aware, because  we  have  failed  to  contend  earnestly  for 
-the  truth. 

"And  behold  there  was  a  great  earthquake."  There 
were  two  earthquakes,  the  first  at  the  time  of  the  death 
of  Jesus,  Wednesday  afternoon,  Nisan  the  20th.  "And 

155 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

the  earth  did  quake,  and  the  rocks  rent"  (Matt.  27:51).. 
Verses  52  and  53  of  this  chapter  the  writer  has  placed 
after  the  second  earthquake  (Matt  28:2),  as  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  saints  was  after  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord. 

"For  an  angel  of  the  Lord  descended  from  heaven,  and 
came  and  rolled  back  the  stone  from  the  door  and  sat  upon 
it."  The  appearance  of  this  angel  so  frightened  the  Roman 
soldiers  who  were  guarding  the  tomb  that  they  became 
as  dead  men.  On  account  of  their  fear  and  lifeless  condi- 
tion they  knew  nothing  of  the  resurrection  of  Jesus,  and 
when  they  became  conscious  they  beheld  the  tomb  now 
empty  which  they  had  faithfully  watched  till  the  third 
day,  only  to  learn  that  their  efforts  to  make  it  sure  had 
failed.  And  they  left  the  sepulchre  and  reported  to  the 
chief  priests  all  the  things  that  were  done.  Suddenly  they 
had  been  relieved  from  further  watching  at  the  tomb,  and 
in  a  manner  which  no  soldiers  either  before  or  again  will 
be  relieved  from  duty. 

And  they  bribed  the  Roman  soldiers  and  instructed  them 
to  say,  "His  disciples  came  by  night,  and  stole  him  away 
while  we  slept."  This  was  their  excuse  when  they  applied 
to  Pilate  for  the  guard,  and  it  has  now  become  suitable  for 
their  own  lying  purpose  to  deceive  the  people.  They  could 
crucify  Jesus  but  the  fact  of  his  resurrection  they  could 
not  destroy.  It  has  become  a  living  truth,  alive  forever- 
more. 

The  Yislon  of  Angels. 

The  first  vision,  was  after  sunset  Saturday  evening,  as 
the  first  of  the  week  was  beginning;  when  an  angel  of  the 
Lord  appeared  to  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary  at 
the  sepulchre  and  gave  them  a  message  to  his  disciples. 
This  vision  is  recorded  by  Matthew  only  (28:2-7). 

The  second  vision  was  early  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
Sunday  morning  while  it  was  yet  dark,  to  Mary  Magdalene 
alone  at  the  sepulchre  after  Peter  and  John  had  left  the 
tomb.  This  vision  is  mentioned  only  by  John  (20:12-13). 

156 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

The  third  vision  is  related  by  Mark  and  Luke  only,  and 
the  visions  are  seen  by  all,  and  messages  given  are  general, 
.and  not  individual  as  were  the  first  and  second.  It  was 
the  last  vision  of  angels  seen  by  the  women  and  occurred 
as  late  as  sunrise  Sunday  morning.  Both  Mark  and  Luke 
say,  "Very  early  in  the  morning,"  but  Mark  defines  very 
•early  as  sunrise.  The  vision  appeared  to  Mary  Magdalene, 
Mary  the  mother  of  James,  Salome  and  Joanna.  Mary 
JVlagdaiene  was  at  the  tomb  when  the  other  women  arrived. 
The  messages  given  at  this  time  were  general.  Mark  men- 
tions one  angel,  Luke  two. 

Ii  the  proper  rules  of  interpretation  were  followed,  the 
•discrepancy  in  the  number  of  men  who  appeared  to  the 
women  would  be  reduced  to  a  reasonable  coincidence. 
The  testimony  of  the  sacred  writers  is  a  distinction  in 
numbers  without  a  difference  in  the  evidence;  as  Mark 
and  Luke  show  that  the  angel  or  angels  gave  to  the  women 
substantially  the  same  message  as  to  his  disciples. 

The  angel  speaks  to  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other 
Mary,  saying,  "Fear  not  ye,  for  I  know  that  ye  seek  Jesus 
which  hath  been  crucified."  The  angel  knew  the  purpose 
of  their  visit,  and  he  tells  them,  "He  is  not  here,  for  he  is 
risen  as  he  said."  He  had  foretold  his  resurrection  (see 
Matt.  16:21,  17:23,  and  Luke  24:6).  The  angel  was  the 
first  to  announce  the  resurrection  of  the  crucified  Jesus. 

The  angel  sends  a  message  by  the  women,  but  before 
it  is  given,  he  says,  "Come  and  see  the  place  where  the 
Lord  lay."  That  they  might  declare  of  their  own  knowl- 
edge the  tomb  was  empty  and  that  Jesus  was  not  there. 
"And  go  quickly,  and  tell  his  disciples  that  he  is  risen 
from  the  dead;  and  behold  he  goeth  before  you  into  Galilee; 
there  shall  ye  see  him;  lo,  I  have  told  you." 
Tiie  Two  Women  Leave  Sepulchre. 

They  departed  quickly  as  the  angel  had  instructed  them 
and  did  run  to  bring  his  disciples  word.  And  after  they 
left,  the  tomb  was  not  again  visited  until  the  next  morn- 

157 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ing.  As  they  went  to  tell  his  disciples,  behold,  Jesus  met 
them,  saying,  "All  hail."  And  they  came  and  held  him  by 
the  feet  and  worshipped  him,  and  he  gave  to  them  the 
same  message  as  to  the  place  of  meeting  that  they  had 
received  from  the  angel  before  leaving  the  sepulchre.  "Be- 
not  afraid:  go  tell  my  brethren  that  they  go  into  Galilee, 
there  shall  they  see  me." 

These  same  two  women,  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other 
Mary,  were  sitting  over  against  the  sepulchre  when  Jesus 
was  buried.  They  were  the  last  to  leave  the  tomb,  and  the 
first  to  visit  it  after  the  resurrection  where  they  went  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  seeing  the  sepulchre.  To  them  the  glad 
tidings  were  first  made  known,  and  they  were  the  first 
messengers  of  the  angel  and  Jesus  to  bear  the  good  news 
to  his  skeptical  disciples  as  they  mourned  and  wept. 

Matthew  does  not  tell  us  that  this  first  message  to  his 
disciples  was  delivered,  but  on  this  point,  Mark,  in  Chap. 
16:1-8,  after  narrating  the  events  of  the  third  visit  to  the 
tomb  early  in  the  morning,  the  first  day  of  the  week,  says, 
"Now  when  Jesus  was  risen  early  the  first  of  the  week — 
Saturday  evening — he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Magdalene 
out  of  whom  he  had  cast  seven  demons"  (Mark  16:9). 
"And  she  went  and  told  them  that  had  been  with  him,  as 
they  mourned  and  wept"  (Mark  16:10).  "And  they,  when 
they  heard  that  he  was  alive,  believed  not"  (Mark  16:11). 
Appearances  of  Jesus  After  the  Resurrection. 

1.  To  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary,  soon  after 
his  resurrection  Saturday  evening  (Matt.  28:9,  Mark  16:9). 

2.  To  Mary  Magdalene  about  daylight  Sunday  morning 
(John  20:14). 

3.  To  Peter  on  Sunday  (Luke  24:34,  I.  Cor.  15:5). 

4.  To   two    disciples    as   they   were    going   to   Emmaus 
(Mark  16:12,  13;    Luke  24:13-32). 

5.  His  appearance  to  the  ten  apostles  at  Jerusalem  the 
same  day  at  evening,  the  Jews'  second  night  of  the  week, 
our  Sunday  night,  Nisan  25th  (John  20:19,  24). 

158 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

6.  To     the     eleven    apostles     one    week    later    (John 
20:24-29). 

7.  At  the  Sea  of  Galilee  to  Peter,  Thomas,  Nathaniel, 
James  and  John  and  two  others   (John  21:1-14). 

8.  To   his   disciples   on   a   mountain   in   Galilee    (Matt. 
28:16). 

9.  To  more  than  five  hundred  brethren  at  once  (I.  Cor.- 
15:6). 

10.  To  James,  one  of  the  apostles   (I.  Cor.  15:7). 

11.  To   the   eleven   at  Jerusalem   as   they   sat  at  meat 
(Mark  16:14). 

12.  His   appearance  to   Paul  on  his   way   to   Damascus 
(Acts  9:3-5). 

The  first  appearance  was  on  Saturday  evening  after 
sunset,  Nisan  the  24th,  April  16th,  to  Mary  Magdalene  and 
the  other  Mary,  as  they  were  going  with  the  message  from 
the  angel  at  the  tomb  to  make  the  first  announcement  to 
his  disciples  of  his  resurrection.  Jesus  met  them  and  gave 
to  them,  and  them  only,  the  same  message,  saying,  "Go  tell 
my  brethren  that  they  go  into  Galilee,  and  there  shall  they 
see  me."  And  she,  Mary  Magdalene,  individually  delivered 
these  messages,  and  they  believed  not.  They  took  no  action 
on  this  report,  and  remained  at  home  until  early  Sunday 
morning,  at  which  time  Mary  Magdalene  came  to  the  tomb 
the  second  time,  while  it  was  yet  dark,  and  seeth  the  stone 
taken  away,  "Then  she  runneth  and  cometh  to  Simon  Peter 
and  the  other  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved/'  and  again  gave 
them  notice  of  the  empty  tomb.  All  the  events  and  mes- 
sages connected  with  this  visit  to  the  tomb  are  separate 
and  distinct  from  the  occurrences  later  in  the  morning, 
when  the  other  women  came  to  anoint  the  body. 

"Now  when  Jesus  had  risen  early  the  first  of  the  week 
he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Magdalene."  Mark,  in  his  ac- 
count of  this  first  appearance  omits  the  "other  Mary,"  men- 
tioned by  Matthew  28:1. 

Some   commentators   hold   that   the   appearance   of   our 

159 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Lord  as  related  by  Matthew  28:9  is  the  second  appearance. 
Among  others  we  find  in  the  People's  New  Testament  the 
explanatory  notes  on  this  point  read,  "This  was  the  second 
appearance  of  the  risen  Savior."  After  diligent  search  the 
writer  is  unable  to  find  the  scripture  that  supports  this  ex- 
planation, and  the  expositor  has  given  none  upon  which 
such  conclusion  is  based.  Therefore,  the  evidence  pertain- 
ing to  his  first  appearance  should  be  carefully  considered. 

First,  we  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  earthquake 
was  at  the  end  of  the  Sabbath,  and  that  the  watch  had 
barely  left,  when  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary 
arrived  at  the  sepulchre.  To  have  appeared  to  her  before 
this  time,  before  the  angel  announced  his  resurrection,  and 
claim  that  Matthew  28:9  refers  to  his  second  instead  of 
his  first  appearance,  is  not  in  accord  with  the  facts  as  re- 
lated by  the  evangelists. 

It  is  presumed  and  we  believe  that  none  will  deny,  that 
the  angel  who  rolled  back  the  stone  from  the  door  of  the 
sepulchre,  and  sat  upon  it  (Matt.  28:2),  was  the  first  to 
announce  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord,  and  it  was  to  Mary 
Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary  that  this  angel  gave  the  first 
message,  to  "go  quickly,  and  tell  his  disciples  that  he  is 
risen  from  the  dead"  (Matt.  28:7). 

And  as  they  went,  Jesus  met  them,  saying,  "All  hail." 
That  this  was  his  first  appearance  cannot  be  questioned. 
But  is  this  the  appearance  to  which  Mark  16:9  refers  when 
he  says,  "When  Jesus  was  risen  early  the  first  (day)  of 
the  week,  he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Magdalene"? 

This  can  be  determined  by  the  message  given  by  the 
angel  (Matt.  28:6,  7);  therefore,  as  it  is  the  same  that 
Mark  16:10-11  says,  "She  went  and  told  them  that  had 
been  with  him,  that  he  was  alive,  and  had  been  seen  of 
her,"  we  reach  a  reasonable  conclusion  that  Mark  16:9 
refers  to  his  first  appearance  which  was  to  Mary  Magda- 
lene as  she  did  run  from  the  tomb  "to  bring  his  disciples 
word"  (Matt.  28:8). 

160 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

The  Second  Appearance,  to  Mary  Magdalene  Alone. 

Sunday  Morning,  Nisan  24th,  April  17th. 

On  this  first  day  of  the  week,  early  in  the  morning,  Mark 
and  Luke  state  that  the  women  went  to  the  sepulchre  with 
the  spices  to  anoint  him.  It  is  definitely  stated  (John 
20:1),  that  Mary  Magdalene  came  earlier  than  the  other 
women,  and  seeth  the  stone  taken  away  from  the  sepul- 
chre. "Then  she  runneth  and  cometh  to  Simon  Peter 
and  the  other  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved,  and  saith  unto 
them,  They  have  taken  away  the  Lord  out  of  the  sepul- 
chre and  we  know  not  where  they  have  laid  him"  (John 
20:2).  Luke  24:12  fails  to  mention  that  "other  disciple," 
who  ran  with  Peter  to  the  sepulchre,  which  is  simply  an 
omission  and  not  a  contradiction. 

The  two  disciples  ran  to  the  sepulchre  and  went  in  and 
saw  the  linen  cloths  lying  and  the  napkin.  "And  they 
saw  and  believed."  Believed  Mary's  report,  "That  they 
had  taken  away  the  Lord,  out  of  the  sepulchre."  That  was 
all,  "for  as  yet  they  knew  not  the  scriptures  that  he  must 
rise  again  from  the  dead"  (John  20:9).  "Then  the  disci- 
ples went  away  again,  unto  their  own  home"  (John  20:10). 

But  Mary  Magdalene  who  had  returned,  stooped  down 
and  looked  into  the  sepulchre  and  seeth  two  angels,  who 
ask,  "Woman,  why  weepest  thou?  She  said  unto  them, 
because  they  have  taken  away  my  Lord,  and  I  know  not 
where  they  have  laid  him." 

"And  when  she  had  thus  said,  she  turned  herself  back, 
and  saw  Jesus  standing,  and  knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus" 
(John  20:14).  "Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Mary.  She  turned 
herself,  and  said  unto  him,  Rabboni,  which  is  to  say  Mas- 
ter" (John  20:16). 

"Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Touch  me  not;  for  I  have  not 
yet  ascended  unto  my  Father,  but  go  to  my  brethren  and 
say  unto  them,  I  ascend  unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father, 
and  to  my  God  and  your  God"  (John  20:17). 

161 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"Mary  Magdalene  came  and  told  the  disciples,  that  she 
had  seen  the  Lord,  and  he  had  spoken  these  things  unto 
her"  (John  20:18). 

The  first  appearance  of  Jesus  to  Mary  Magdalene  and 
the  other  Mary  was  after  they  had  left  the  sepulchre,  as 
they  went  to  tell  his  disciples  (Matt.  28:9). 

And  when  they  heard  he  was  alive,  believed  not  (Mark 
16:9-11);  therefore,  at  this  time  they  did  not  run  to  the 
sepulchre.  If  they  had  and  the  appearance  recorded  by 
John  20:18  was  the  first  appearance  of  Jesus  to  Mary  Mag- 
dalene instead  of  the  second,  then  Peter  and  John  ran 
to  the  tomb  and  found  it  empty  before  the  angel  announced 
the  resurrection  to  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary. 
After  they  left  the  sepulchre  Mary  Magdalene  seeth  two  an- 
gels, who  say  unto  her,  "Woman,  why  weepest  thou"? 
(John  20:13).  They  gave  no  message  to  her  of  any  char- 
acter whatever.  After  the  angels  had  spoken  to  her,  she 
turned  herself  back  and  saw  Jesus  standing.  And ,  when 
he  had  called  her  name,  she  knew  him.  And  he  gave  her 
a  message,  saying,  "Go  to  my  brethren,  and  say  unto  them, 
I  ascend  unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father;  and  to  my  God 
and  your  God"  (John  20:17). 

"Mary  Magdalene  came  and  told  the  disciples  that  she 
had  seen  the  Lord  and  that  he  had  spoken  these  things 
unto  her."  Then  the  same  day  at  evening, — Sunday  even- 
ing— he  made  his  first  appearance  to  ten  of  his  disciples. 
Without  contradiction,  John  20:14-18  refers  to  the  second 
appearance  of  Jesus  to  Mary  Magdalene  and  not  to  the 
first,  as  many  great  commentators  think. 

Mary  Magdalene  was  prominent  in  making  known  the 
glad  tidings  of  the  risen  Lord.  She  was  the  bearer  of  four 
messages  to  his  disciples.  The  first,  after  sunset  Satur- 
day evening  from  the  angel  at  the  tomb,  for  "He  is  risen 
as  he  said"  (Matt.  28:6). 

Second,  the  same  time,  after  leaving  the  tomb,  Jesus 
met  them,  and  said,  "Go  tell  my  brethren  that  they  go 
into  Galilee,  and  there  shall  they  see  me"  (Matt.  28:10). 

162 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Third,  early  Sunday  morning  while  it  was  yet  dark,  she 
cometh  the  second  time  to  the  sepulchre,  and  seeth  the 
stone  taken  away,  she  runneth,  and  cometh  to  Simon  Peter, 
and  the  other  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved,  and  saith  unto 
them,  They  have  taken  away  the  Lord  out  of  the  sepul- 
chre, and  we  know  not  where  they  have  laid  him  (John 
20:2). 

Fourth,  After  Peter  and  John  had  left  the  tomb,  Jesus 
appeared  to  her,  and  gave  the  message  concerning  his  as- 
cension (John  20:17).  "Mary  Magdalene  came  and  told 
the  disciples  that  she  had  seen  the  Lord,  and  that  he  had 
spoken  these  things  unto  her." 

Both  Mark  and  Luke  mention  the  messages  given  to  the 
women  by  the  angels  early  Sunday  morning  at  the  tomb. 
John  makes  no  mention  of  any  message  given  by  the  an- 
gels. He  states  that  Mary  saw  two  angels  and  records  the 
question  they  asked  her.  He  probably  omits  this,  because 
recorded  by  others.  John  alone  mentions  the  second  ap- 
pearance of  Jesus  to  Mary  Magdalene  which  is  omitted 
by  the  other  evangelists.  As  she  came  early  while  it  was 
yet  dark,  his  appearance  to  her  took  place  before  the  ar- 
rival of  the  other  women,  and  is  an  incident  that  should 
be  separately  considered.  Evidently  the  angels  gave  their 
messages  to  them  after  Mary  Magdalene  had  seen  the  Lord, 
for  on  every  occasion  of  his  appearance  he  showed  himself 
to  all  who  were  present. 

Many  commentators  mention  the  appearance  of  Jesus  "to 
all  the  women,  and  to  the  other  women."  Careful  search 
of  the  scriptures  reveal  the  fact  that  Jesus  did  not  appear 
to  all  the  women,  nor  "the  other  women,"  at  the  tomb, 
other  than  two,  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary.  The 
women  returned  from  the  sepulchre  and  told  these  things 
unto  the  apostles. 

The  women.  All  that  visited  the  tomb  early  in  the  morn- 
ing and  heard  for  the  first  time  the  announcement  of  the 
resurrection.  And  their  words  seemed  to  them  as  idle 

163 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

tales,  and  they  believed  not  (Luke).  Why  did  they  not 
believe?  For  as  yet  they  knew  not  the  scripture  that  he 
must  rise  again  (John).  It  appears  that  the  apostles  had 
forgotten  all  that  Jesus  had  told  them  concerning  his  res- 
urrection, that  he  would  rise  from  the  dead  the  third  day, 
and  not  until  he  had  appeared  unto  them  and  opened  their 
understanding  did  they  believe  and  understand  the  things 
that  were  written  concerning  him. 

The  Ascension. 

On  Thursday,  May  the  26th,  forty  days  after  the  resur- 
rection, Jesus  made  his  eleventh  and  last  appearance  to 
his  disciples  at  Jerusalem,  "as  they  sat  at  meat"  (Mark 
16:14).  This  last  appearance,  in  narration,  is  so  closely 
connected  with  his  appearance  to  two  of  them  on  the  day 
of  his  resurrection,  "as  they  walked  and  went  into  the 
country,"  that  one  might  suppose  this  was  his  first  appear- 
ance, instead  of  the  last,  which  occurred  forty  days  after 
his  resurrection. 

After  his  appearance  to  the  two  they  at  once  returned 
to  Jerusalem.  "And  they  went  and  told  it  unto  the  resi- 
due" (Mark  16:13).  All  were  not  present,  only  ten,  at  this 
first  appearance  (John  20:19-24).  "Thomas  was  not  with 
them  when  Jesus  came."  It  was  the  second  night  of  the 
week,  on  Sunday  night,  the  18th  night  of  the  month,  Jewish 
time. 

"Afterward  he  appeared  unto  the  eleven."  About  forty 
days  thereafter.  Compare  Luke  24:36-43. 

Luke  refers  to  his  first  appearance,  "when  they  were  ter- 
rified and  affrighted."  Campbell  says,  "One  would  think 
on  reading  the  close  of  Luke's  testimony  that  Jesus  as- 
cended to  heaven  the  evening  of  the  same  day  on  which 
he  arose  from  the  grave,  but  the  same  historian  tells  us 
elsewhere  that  he  did  not  ascend  till  nearly  six  weeks  after- 
ward." This  is  a  suggestion  to  the  reader. 

At  this  time  he  gave  the  great  commission  as  recorded 
by  Mark  and  Luke.  "And  being  assembled  together  with 

164 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

them."  Acts  1:4  said,  "And  behold,  I  send  the  promise 
of  my  Father  upon  you;  but  tarry  ye  in  the  city  of  Jeru- 
salem until  ye  be  endued  with  power  from  on  high"  (Luke 
24:49).  After  giving  these  final  instructions,  "He  led  them 
out  as  far  as  to  Bethany  and  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and 
blessed  them"  (Luke  24:50). 

"And  it  came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  he  was 
parted  from  them,  and  carried  up  into  heaven"  (Luke 
24:51). 

"After  that  he  through  the  Holy  Ghost  had  given  com- 
mandments unto  the  apostles  whom  he  had  chosen"  (Acts 
1:2).  "And  they  worshiped  him  and  returned  to  Jerusalem 
with  great  joy"  (Luke  24:52). 

The  Waiting  Period. 

"But  tarry  ye  in  the  city  of  Jerusalem  until  ye  be  en- 
dued with  power  from  on  high"  (Luke  24:49). 

In  Acts  1:5  Luke  somewhat  definitely  states  the  length 
of  time  the  apostles  would  wait  for  the  promise  of  the 
Father,  as  "not  many  days  hence,"  which  implies  a  very 
short  time.  It  is  generally  claimed  by  commentators  that 
a  period  of  ten  days  intervened  between  the  ascension  and 
the  day  of  Pentecost.  From  a  careful  investigation  of  the 
scriptures  and  the  events  connected  with  the  death  and 
resurrection  of  our  Lord  it  is  shown  that  such  a  claim  is 
not  supported  by  the  testimony  of  the  witnesses.  There- 
fore, it  is  man's  attempt  to  amend  a  false  theory  of  the 
death  and  resurrection  of  our  Lord  and  place  it  on  a  true 
basis  by  adding  the  number  of  days  required  to  reach  the 
legal  time  of  Pentecost. 

The  following  Sunday,  May  29th,  the  day  of  Pentecost 
was  fully  come  and  the  promise  of  the  Father  to  endue 
them  with  power  from  on  high  was  fulfilled. 


165 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

Pentecost — The  Feast  of  Harvest,  or  the  Feast 
of  Weeks. 

When  ye  be  come  into  the  land  which  I  give 
unto  you,  and  shall  reap  the  harvest  thereof,  then 
ye  shall  bring  a  sheaf  of  the  first  fruits  of  your 
harvest  unto  the  priest  (Lev.  23:10). 

And  he  shall  wave  the  sheaf  before  the  Lord, 
to  be  accepted  for  you:  on  the  morrow  after  the 
Sabbath  the  priest  shall  wave  it  (Lev.  23:11). 

And  ye  shall  eat  neither  bread,  nor  parched 
corn,  nor  green  ears,  until  the  selfsame  day  that 
ye  have  brought  an  offering  unto  your  God  (Lev. 
23:14). 

Seven  weeks  shalt  thou  number  unto  thee :  be- 
gin to  number  the  seven  weeks  from  such  time  as 
thou  beginnest  to  put  the  sickle  to  the  corn 
(Deut.  16:9). 

And  ye  shall  count  unto  you  from  the  morrow 
after  the  Sabbath,  from  the  day  that  ye  brought 
the  sheaf  of  the  wave  offering:  seven  Sabbaths 
shall  be  complete  (Lev.  23:15). 

Even  unto  the  morrow  after  the  seventh  Sab- 
bath shall  ye  number  fifty  days ;  and  ye  shall  of- 
fer a  new  meat  offering  unto  the  Lord  (Lev. 
23:16). 

Ye  shall  bring  out  of  your  habitations  two 
wave  loaves,  of  two-tenth  deals:  they  shall  be  of 
fine  flour:  they  shall  be  baken  with  leaven;  they 
are  the  first  fruits  (of  wheat)  unto  the  Lord  (Lev. 
23:17). 

And  whatsoever  is  first  ripe  in  the  land,  which 
they  shall  bring  unto  the  Lord,  shall  be  thine 
(Num.  18:13). 

166 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

And  thou  shalt  observe  the  feast  of  weeks  of 
the  first  fruits  of  wheat  harvest  (Ex.  34:22). 

Pentecost.  The  day  of  Pentecost,  or  Feast  of  Weeks, 
was  celebrated  at  the  end  of  the  harvest,  and  always  fell 
upon  the  first  day  of  the  week— Sunday.  The  celebration 
of  this  feast  was  determined  by  the  time  of  waving  a  sheaf 
of  the  first  fruits  of  the  harvest  before  the  Lord. 

"On  the  morrow  after  the  Sabbath  the  priest  shall  wave 
it."  On  Sunday.  And  Pentecost  would  be  early  or  late 
according  to  the  ripening  of  the  harvest. 

"And  ye  shall  neither  eat  bread."  According  to  the  law 
they  were  not  allowed  to  eat  any  of  the  first  fruits  of  the 
harvest  nor  begin  to  put  the  "sickle  to  the  corn,"  barley 
or  wheat  until  the  selfsame  day  that  they  brought  an  offer- 
ing unto  God. 

"A  sheaf  of  the  first  fruits  of  your  harvest."  The  first 
fruits  of  harvest,  waved  by  the  priest,  was  barley,  for  there 
would  be  no  ripe  wheat  as  early  as  the  middle  of  April; 
therefore,  the  offering  was  made,  and  the  count  begun  from 
the  first  Sunday  of  the  barley  harvest,  which,  in  Palestine, 
begins  about  the  first  of  April,  while  the  wheat  harvest 
begins  about  the  middle  of  May. 

In  the  year  of  the  crucifixion  the  sheaf  of  the  first  fruits 
was  waved  on  Sunday,  April  the  tenth.  On  the  following 
Sunday  evening  Jesus  appeared  to  the  ten  apostles,  and 
forty  days  thereafter,  Thursday,  May  26th,  "He  appeared 
unto  the  eleven  as  they  sat  at  meat"  (Mark  16:14). 

Many  commentators  following  Josephus  begin  the  count 
from  the  second  day  of  Passover  week,  Nisan  the  16th, 
April  9th.  While  McGarvey  in  his  commentary  on  Acts, 
page  19,  says  that,  "the  day  of  Pentecost  was  the  fiftieth 
day  after  the  Sabbath  of  the  Passover  week." 

This  reckoning  probably  was  true  in  the  year  of  the 
crucifixion,  but  the  beginning  of  the  harvest  would  not  be 
changeable  as  was  the  Sabbath  of  Passover  week  which 
was  determined  by  the  phases  of  the  moon,  and  was  some- 

167 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

times  as  early  as  the  middle  of  March  or  as  late  as  the 
middle  of  April.  So  the  theories  of  the  able  commentators 
are  not  in  accord  with  the  scriptures,  and  two  errors  that 
failed  to  explain  one  truth  marred  the  simple  facts  that 
required  no  explanation. 

"And  thou  shall  observe  the  feast  of  weeks."  Pentecost 
at  the  end  of  harvest  was  to  be  celebrated  with  the  first 
fruits  of  the  wheat  harvest.  Ripe  wheat  is  specifically 
mentioned  in  connection  with  the  observance  of  this  feast 
at  which  time  the  wave  offering  was  made  (Ex.  34:22,  Lev. 
23:17-20).  Moreover,  the  bread  of  this  offering  was  baked 
with  leaven,  and  was  peculiar  to  the  day  of  Pentecost,  for 
leavened  bread  was  prohibited  at  all  other  times  and  with 
other  offerings  (Lev.  2:11  and  6:17);  which  precludes  any 
consideration  of  this  offering  being  made  at  the  beginning 
of  the  harvest,  or  during  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread.  The 
oblation  offered  with  the  wave  sheaf  at  the  beginning 
of  the  harvest  was  a  burnt  offering  (Lev.  23:12).  At  the 
end  of  the  harvest  the  new  meat  offering,  the  wave  loaves 
baked  with  leaven,  and  other  offerings,  the  priest  shall 
wave  them,  with  the  bread  of  the  first  fruits  for  a  ware 
offering  (Lev.  23:20). 

This  feast  of  harvest  is  typical  of  that  great  harvest 
which  is  "the  end  of  the  world."  When  the  angels  are  the 
reapers,  "And  they  shall  gather  together  his  elect  from  the 
four  winds  from  one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other."  Thrust 
in  the  sickle  and  reap:  for  the  time  is  come  for  thee  to 
reap:  for  the  harvest  of  the  earth  is  ripe. 


168 


Ere    the  orb  of  heaven  lit  up  the  day, 
The  might  of  Qod's  word  illumed  the   way. 

In  Eden  a  twilight  of  hope  He  gave 
To  Adam's  lost  race,  a  promise  to  save. 

On  through  the  ages  the  prophets  foretold 

The  Word,  the  Way,  the  Truth,  the  Life  unfold. 

Before  the  earth,  or  dawn  of  time,  was  He — 
The  Word;  the  flashlight  of  eternity. 


THE  MASTER  KEY. 

QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS  ON  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

The  Feast  of  Unleavened  Bread  Which  Is  Called  the 
Passover. 

(Luke  22:1.) 

1.  When,  where  and  with  whom  did  Jesus  eat  the  last 
Passover? 

At  the  legal  time,  Thursday  night  (night  precedes  the 
day),  Nisan  the  15th,  in  the  upper  room  in  Jerusalem  with 
the  twelve  apostles. 

2.  How  long  did  they  remain  there,  and  why? 

Until  Saturday  night  because  both  Friday  and  Saturday 
were  Sabbath  days. 

3.  What  memorial  did  Jesus  institute  on  Saturday  night 
before  leaving  that  upper  room? 

The  Lord's  Supper. 

4.  To  what  place  did  Jesus  and  the  eleven  apostles  go? 
To  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane. 

Arrest,  Trials  and  Crucifixion. 

1.  When,  where  and  by  whom  was  Jesus  arrested? 

On  Saturday  night  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane  by  a 
band  of  men  and  officers  from  the  chief  priests  and  Phari- 
sees (John  18:3). 

2.  To  whom  did  they  first  take  Jesus? 

To  Annas,  who  sent  him  bound  unto  Caiaphas  the  high 
priest. 

3.  Who  were  assembled  at  the  high  priest's  house? 
All  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  and  the  scribes  (Mark 

14:53). 

4.  What  action  did  they  take  against  Jesus? 

"Now  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders,  and  all  the  coun- 
cil sought  false  witness  against  Jesus  to  put  him  to  death." 

170 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

5.  Why  did  they  want  false  witness  ? 

There  was  no  true  testimony  to  a  charge  that  was  pun- 
ishable with  death. 

6.  Did  they  find  any? 

"Many  bare  false  witness  against  him,  and  their  witness 
agreed  not  together"  (Mark  14:56). 

7.  How  did  they  convict  Jesus  without  charges  or  wit- 
nesses? 

By  answering  the  question  of  the  high  priest,  Art  thou 
the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Blessed?  "And  Jesus  said,  I 
am"  (Mark  14:62).  He  bore  witness  against  himself. 

8.  Of  what  crime  did  he  convict  himself? 

None.  He  told  the  truth  but  the  Sanhedrim  looked  upon 
him  as  a  deceiver,  and  according  to  the  law  he  committed 
blasphemy. 

9.  What  was  the  penalty  for  blasphemy? 

"All  the  congregation  shall  stone  him"   (Lev.  24:16). 

10.  When  the  Sanhedrim  decided  that  Jesus  was  guilty 
of  death,  what  did  they  do? 

They  adjourned  till  the  next  day.  "And  as  soon  as  it 
was  day,  the  elders  of  the  people  and  the  chief  priests,  and 
the  scribes  came  together,  and  led  him  into  their  council" 
(Luke  22:66). 

11.  Was  Jesus  bound  all  this  time? 

No,  his  bonds  were  loosed  after  he  was  sent  to  Caiaphas. 
"'And  before  they  led  him  away  to  Pilate,  they  bound  him" 
(Matt.  27:2). 

12.  After  Pilate  had  acquitted  Jesus  at  his  first  trial, 
to  whom  did  he  send  him? 

To  Herod. 

13.  Why  did  he  send  him  to  Herod? 

Jesus  was  a  Galilean,  and  belonged  to  Herod's  jurisdic- 
tion (Luke  23:7). 

14.  Who  were  Jesus'  accusers? 
The  chief  priests  and  the  scribes. 

171 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

15.  What  accusations  did  they  bring  against  Jesus? 

He  was  a  malefactor,  that  he  forbid  the  payment  of 
tribute  to  Caesar,  and  that  he  himself  was  Christ,  a  King. 

16.  Did  Herod  find  Jesus  guilty  of  any  crime? 

No,  he  questioned  with  him  in  many  words,  and  Jesus 
answered  him  nothing,  and  he  sent  him  again  to  Pilate 
(Luke  23:11). 

17.  After  Jesus   was   sent   back   to   Pilate,   why  did   he 
again  call  together  the  chief  priests  and  the  rulers  of  the 
people? 

To  plead  the  innocency  of  Jesus  before  them  and  release- 
him. 

18.  How  many  trials  did  Jesus  have? 

Seven.  He  was  tried  before  three  different  tribunals, 
and  in  four  different  places. 

19.  How  many  days  did  these  trials  require? 

From  the  time  of  his  arrest  on  Saturday  night  to  about 
six  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  Nisan  20th,  April  13th. 

20.  On  what  day  of  the  week  and  at  what  hour  was; 
Jesus  crucified? 

On  Wednesday  about  the  third  hour,  nine  o'clock. 

21.  Who  crucified  Jesus. 
The  Roman  soldiers. 

Burial  and  Resurrection. 

1.  Who  buried  Jesus? 

Joseph  of  Arimathea  and  Nicodemus. 

2.  When  did  they  bury  him? 

Wednesday  evening.  The  burial  was  not  finished  before^ 
sunset.  Luke  says,  "And  the  Sabbath  drew  on."  The  an- 
nual Sabbath, — Thursday, — the  last  great  day  of  the  feast, 
drew  on, — was  beginning. 

3.  On  what  day  was  the  guard  placed  at  the  sepulchre?' 
Thursday,  Nisan  21st,  April   14th.     The  next  day  after 

the  Preparation  on  which  Jesus  was  crucified.     If  it  had' 

172 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

ibeen  the  weekly   Sabbath,   Saturday,  Matthew  would  not 
ihave  referred  to  it  as  the  next  day. 

4.  How  long  was  the  guard  to  remain  at  the  tomb? 
Until  the  third  day  after  the  burial. 

5.  Did  they  remain  that  length  of  time? 

Yes,  until  Saturday  evening  about  sunset,  when  an  angel 
of  the  Lord  appeared  and  Jesus  arose  from  the  dead. 

6.  How  many  days  and  nights  did  Jesus  say  he  would 
.be  in  the  tomb? 

Three  days  and  three  nights   (Matt.  12:40). 

7.  Was  he  in  the  tomb  that  length  of  time? 

Yes,  Thursday  night,  and  Thursday;  Friday  night,  and 
.Friday;  Saturday  night,  and  Saturday. 

8.  Which   of   the   evangelists   gives   an   account  of  the 
resurrection? 

Matthew  only.  The  events  recorded  by  him  are  not  men- 
tioned by  other  writers. 

9.  When  did  Jesus  rise  from  the  dead? 

Saturday  evening  at  sunset,  Nisan  the  23rd.  "In  the  end 
of  the  Sabbath  as  the  first  of  the  week  was  beginning" 
(Matt.  28:1). 

10.  Who  came  to  the  sepulchre  at  the  end  of  the  Sab- 
bath? 

Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary  (Matt.  28:1). 

11.  For  what  purpose  did  they  come? 
"To  see  the  sepulchre"  (Matt.  28:1). 

12.  Who  opened  the  door  of  the  sepulchre? 

"An  angel  of  the  Lord  came  and  rolled  away  the  stone, 
and  sat  upon  it"  (Matt.  28:2). 

13.  Who  was  the  first  to  announce  the  resurrection  of 
Jesus? 

The  angel  that  sat  upon  the  stone,  said,  "He  is  not  here: 
for  he  is  risen  as  he  said"  (Matt.  28:6). 

173 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

14.  To  whom  did  the  angel  make  this  first  announce- 
ment? 

Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary. 

15.  What   message   did    the   angel    give   to   these   two 
women? 

"Go  quickly  and  tell  his  disciples  that  he  is  risen  from 
the  dead;  and  behold  he  goeth  before  you  into  Galilee" 
(Matt.  28:7). 

16.  Who  met  them  as  they  did  run  to  bring  his  disci- 
ples word? 

Jesus   (Matt.  28:9). 

17.  Was  this  his  first  appearance? 

Yes.  Mark  16:9  says  he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Mag- 
dalene, but  he  omits  to  mention  the  other  Mary. 

18.  What  did   his  disciples   do   when  Mary   Magdalene 
first  told  them  that  she  had  seen  the  Lord? 

Nothing.     "They  believed  not"   (Mark  16:11). 

19.  Did  Mary  Magdalene  again  visit  the  sepulchre? 
Yes,  alone,  early  the  first  day  of  the  week  (Sunday  morn- 
ing), "while  it  was  yet  dark"   (John  20:1). 

20.  What  attracted  her  attention? 

"She  seeth  the  stone  taken  away  from  the  sepulchre'* 
(John  20:1). 

21.  To  whom  did  she  tell  this? 

"To  Peter  and  the  other  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved" 
(John  20:2). 

22.  What  did  Peter  and  John  do? 

They  ran  to  the  sepulchre,  and  went  in,  and  when  they 
saw  the  empty  tomb,  "they  believed"  (John  20:8). 

23.  What  did  they  believe? 

What  Mary  had  told  them,  "that  they  had  taken  away 
the  Lord  out  of  the  sepulchre." 

24.  Why   did   the   disciples   not   believe   her   first  mes- 
sage, that  "he  was  risen  from  the  dead"?  (Matt.  28:7). 

174 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

"For  as  yet  they  knew  not  the  scriptures  that  he  must 
rise  again  from  the  dead"  (John  20:9).  "And  their  words 
seemed  to  them  as  idle  tales"  (Luke). 

25.  Why  did  Peter  and  John  believe  the  second  mes- 
sage, "They  have  taken  away  the  Lord  out  of  the  sepul- 
chre and  we  know  not  where  they  have  laid  him"? 

Because  it  was  possible  and  reasonable.  To  them  the 
first  message,  "He  is  risen,"  was  an  impossibility,  and  be- 
yond the  limits  of  human  reason. 

26.  If  Mary  Magdalene  viewed  the  empty  tomb  and  had 
seen  Jesus  on  Saturday  evening,  why  did  she  visit  it  again 
Sunday  morning? 

She,  with  others,  prepared  spices  on  Friday,  and  on 
Sunday  morning  came  to  anoint  him  (Mark  16:1,  Luke 
24:1). 

27.  Did  Mary  Magdalene  expect  to  find  his  body  in  the 
tomb? 

Yes. 

28.  Why  did  she  not  know  Jesus  when  he  appeared  to 
her? 

For  the  same  reason  that  his  disciples  did  not  know  him 
(Luke  24:16,  32;  John  21:4). 

Forgetfulness  and  doubt  shadowed  the  minds  of  his 
dearest  friends,  and  the  apostles  were  filled  with  unbelief 
and  were  slow  to  believe.  This  probably  influenced  the 
mind  of  Mary  Magdalene  to  believe  that  what  she  had  seen 
was  only  a  vision.  This  is  in  harmony  with  her  actions. 
No  mortal  can  tell,  neither  should  we  know  more  than  that 
written  on  the  record.  In  all  this  we  can  see  the  work  of 
Providence  controlling  tbe  minds  and  actions  of  men. 

29.  After  Peter   and   John   examined   the   empty   tomb, 
where  did  they  go? 

"Then  the  disciples  went  away  again  unto  their  own; 
home"  (John  20:10). 

175. 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

30.  Where  was  Mary  at  this  time? 

"Mary  stood  without  at  the  sepulchre  weeping,  and  as 
she  wept  she  looked  into  the  sepulchre"  (John  20:11). 

31.  What  did  she  see? 
Two  angels. 

32.  Did  they  give  her  any  message? 

No.     They  asked,  "Why  weepest  thou?"  (John  20:15). 

33.  When  did  the  angel  give  her  the  message  telling 
her,  "He  is  risen"? 

Saturday  evening  at  the  tomb  (Matt.  28:6).  "And  she 
went  and  told  the  disciples,  and  they  believed  not"  (Mark 
16:11). 

34.  Who  appeared  to  Mary  Magdalene  after  Peter  and 
.John  left  the  sepulchre? 

Jesus  (John  20:14). 

35.  Was  this  his  first  appearance  to  Mary  Magdalene? 
No,  the  second.     Peter  and  John  did  not  come  to  the 

tomb  before  the  angel  announced  his  resurrection  to  Mary 
Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary  (Matt.  28:6). 

36.  What  message  did  Jesus  give  to  Mary? 

"Go  to  my  brethren,  and  say  unto  them,  I  ascend  unto 
my  Father,  and  your  Father;  and  unto  my  God,  and  your 
God"  (John  20:17). 

37.  How  many  times  did  Jesus  appear  to  Mary  Mag- 
dalene? 

Twice. 

38.  Where  and  when  the  first  time? 

On  Saturday  evening  after  she  and  the  other  Mary  had 
left  the  sepulchre  with  a  message  from  the  angel  at  the 
tomb,  "Jesus  met  them"  (Matt.  28:19). 

39.  When  and  where  the  second  appearance? 

At  the  sepulchre  on  Sunday  morning,  after  Peter  and 
John  returned  from  the  tomb,  and  before  the  arrival  of  the 
other  women. 

176 


MASTER  KEY. 

40.  Did  Jesus  appear  to  any  women  besides  Mary  Mag- 
dalene and  the  other  Mary? 

The  evangelists  mention  no  appearances  to  any  other 
women. 

41.  What  are  the  names  of  the  women  mentioned  by 
Mark  and  Luke  that  were  at  the  sepulchre  at  the  rising 
of  the  sun? 

Mary  Magdalene,  Mary  the  mother  of  James,  Joanna  and 
Salome. 

42.  For  what  purpose  did  they  come? 

They  had  bought  spices  that  they  might  come  and  anoint 
him. 

43.  On  what  day  did  the  women  buy  the  spices? 

Friday.  Luke  23:56  says,  "And  they  returned  and  pre- 
pared spices  and  ointments;  and  rested  the  Sabbath  day 
(Saturday)  according  to  the  commandment." 

44.  How  can  Luke  be  reconciled  with  Mark  16:1,  who 
says,  "And  when  the  Sabbath  was  past,  the  women  bought 
the  spices"? 

The  Sabbath  referred  to  by  Mark  as  past  was  the  annual 
or  feast  Sabbath,  Thursday;  after  this  Sabbath  was  past, 
they  gathered  the  spices  on  Friday. 

45.  How  may  we  know  it  was  the  feast  Sabbath,  Thurs- 
day? 

Because  there  were  no  spices  gathered  after  Saturday, 
the  weekly  Sabbath.  Luke  says,  the  spices  were  prepared 
before  this  day. 

46.  On  what  day  did  Jesus  first  appear  to  his  disciples? 
On  Sunday  evening,  Nisan  25tk,  April  17th  (John  20:19). 

47.  How  many  days  was  he  seen  of  them  after  his  res- 
urrection? 

Forty  days  (Acts  1:3). 

48.  For  what  purpose  did  he  appear  to  them? 

He  was  speaking  the  things  concerning  the  Kingdom  of 
God  (Acts  1:3). 

177 


THE    MASTER   KEY. 

49.  When  did  the  last  interview  between  Jesus  and  his 
disciples  take  place? 

Thursday,  May  26th  (Mark  16:14). 

50.  Where? 

At  Jerusalem  just  before  the  ascension. 

51.  What  promise  were  they  to  wait  for  in  Jerusalem? 
"The  promise  of  the  Father  that  he  would  send  them 

another  Comforter"  (John  14:16). 

52.  What  was   the   purpose   in   sending  the   Comforter 
which  is  the  Holy  Spirit? 

"He  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  all  things  to 
your  remembrance  whatsoever  I  have  said  unto  you"  (John 
14:26). 

53.  What  power  did  the  apostles  receive  after  the  Holy 
Spirit  came  upon  them? 

"They  were  to  be  witnesses  unto  Jesus  both  in  Jerusalem 
and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  to  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth"  (Acts  1:8). 

54.  Where  did  the  eleven  apostles  abide  at  this  time? 
In  an  upper  room  in  Jerusalem   (Acts  1:13). 

55.  After  Jesus  had  spoken  these  things  where  did  he 
take  the  eleven  apostles? 

He  led  them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany. 

56.  What  was  his  last  act  of  love? 

He  lifted  up  his  hands  and  blessed  them. 

57.  What  came  to  pass  as  he  blessed  them? 

He  was  parted  from  them,  and  carried  up  into  heaven. 

58.  Did  they  rejoice  at  his  departure  from  them? 
"They  worshiped  him,  and   returned  to  Jerusalem  with 

great  joy"   (Luke  24:52,  John  14:28). 

Feast  of  Harvest,  Feast  of  Weeks — Pentecost. 

1.    Why  called  the  feast  of  harvest? 
It  was  an  annual  feast  of  the  Jews  celebrated  at  the  end. 
of  the  harvest. 

178 


THE    MASTER    KEY. 

2.  Why  called  the  feast  of  weeks? 

Because  there  was  seven  weeks  and  one  day  between 
the  beginning  of  the  harvest,  and  the  celebration  of  this 
feast. 

3.  Why  called  Pentecost? 

The  name  Pentecost,  fiftieth,  was  acquired,  this  being  the 
number  of  days  from  the  offering  of  the  first  fruits  of  the 
harvest  to  the  observance  of  the  feast  of  weeks. 

4.  At  what  time  does  the  harvest  in  Palestine  begin? 
The  barley  begins  to  ripen  about  the  first  of  April,  and 

the  wheat  harvest  about  the  middle  of  May. 


179 


6  0 


J 


VB   12886 


313984 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


